Winter Quarter Update and Honoring MLK & Black History Month from Dean Butch de Castro

It’s been an exciting, energetic, and enriching time for me since stepping into the Deanship of the College of Nursing last July. I’ve gotten better acquainted with faculty and staff throughout our college and the university and have had wonderful opportunities to engage with our students. Everyone has made settling in easy and enjoyable. I’m so appreciative of the continued warmth and ready assistance extended by all. I can honestly say that I do not feel like I am new to Seattle University anymore. That said, I sincerely look forward to deeper engagement with all that Seattle University offers and greater rapport with all members of its community.

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Black History Month

As we move through the first quarter of 2024, in January, taking time to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and celebrating Black history throughout February, it is important to reaffirm our institution’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. I celebrated the holiday dedicated to Dr. King and his accomplishments by attending a mass at our Chapel of St. Ignatius organized by the Black Catholic Advisory Circle.

In our Jesuit tradition, I remind that we must respond to Dr. King’s statement that, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” I’m proud that our academic programs are designed to educate and inspire leaders to transform health care for a just and humane world. Recognizing and attending to the needs of those who are marginalized and oppressed by unfair systems and actions are core to how we at Seattle University prepare health care professionals.

Congratulations to our Newest Redhawk Nurses!

I’m pleased to share that we saw high success among BSN graduates and current DNP students completing their NCLEX exams in 2023. These pass rates reflect the commitment of our faculty and staff to prepare students for the new generation NCLEX exam and provide them with firm footing as they proceed into professional practice.

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing program traditional 4-year graduates: First-time pass rates was 89.61% with an overall rate of 94.8%
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing program transfer graduates: First-time pass rates was 82.1% with an overall rate of 90.5%
• Doctoral students in the Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion program: First-time pass rates was 92.75% and the overall pass rate was 97.1%

I extend heartfelt congratulations to all of you who completed this important step on your way to starting your nursing career.

Investing in Student Success

As you may have heard, SU Gives, our annual 24-hour giving event, is almost here. On Thursday, February 29, alumni, students, parents, friends, staff and faculty will come together for this online event to invest in the success of current and future students.

Please join me in contributing to the College of Nursing’s student scholarships or funds. This year, thanks to the generosity of our donors, if the College of Nursing receives at least 60 online gifts of any size on Thursday, it will unlock an additional $10,000. Our scholarships provide support for students in pursuit of their educational goal to become a nurse, nurse practitioner, or ultra-sonographer by providing tuition assistance.

No gift is too small, every dollar raised enhances our mission of educating and inspiring leaders to transform health care for a more just, equitable and humane world.

New Nursing Advisory Board

I welcome and thank all the members of our newly convened . This advisory board will provide a channel for perspectives from nurses in professional practice, health systems leadership positions, and community-/public-service roles to guide our pursuits to fulfill our mission and actualize our vision. Our College of Nursing leadership team is thrilled to have these wonderful, well-accomplished nurses advise and support us in delivering high-quality education and training across our undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. Many thanks to each of them for agreeing to serve.