When Sandra Sexton Welling joined the Hardin-Simmons University faculty, she not only brought a love for Jesus, a wealth of knowledge and a collaborative spirit. She also arrived with a vision for developing a program focused on Christ-centered nursing.
Welling, the founding director of nursing and associate dean of the HSU College of Health Professions, long has been drawn to helping others. It’s a lesson learned from her mother, who was a nurse.
From a young age, she saw the impact nursing has on the individual and community. Following her mother’s example, she wants to extend a helping hand wherever she can.
“We need to give back,” Welling said. “What kind of society would we be if we just take and not give back?”
When Welling attended college, she initially was drawn to history and education. Her passion for history and understanding “why” is an aspect of nursing she practices daily. Any student who wants to see her collection of vintage bedpans (thoroughly sanitized, of course) or historical texts can visit her office.
Welling points to Nago Nagle, who founded the Presentation Sisters, as an inspiration. Nagle, who predated Florence Nightingale by a century, was known as the Lady of the Lantern, because she walked the streets at night to help the poor and lowly.
The Presentation Sisters—a worldwide Roman Catholic religious order—follow the example of Nano Nagle and “work for justice, alleviate oppression and promote human dignity, especially among the poor.”
Sandra acts as a cojourner of the Presentation Sisters, a lay group open to any baptized person who exhibits the Presentation Sisters’ spirituality, values and mission within the framework of her own life, career and responsibilities.
Dedication to servant leadership
At the core of everyone called to nursing is a need to serve, Welling believes. Her focus on service is evident in the curriculum she and Laura Wade, assistant professor of nursing, are developing for the new school of nursing.
“God is at the center of the program. Our leaders are Christ-centric and servants to the community,” she said.
The HSU School of Nursing will be dedicated to servant leadership and focused on nurturing, fostering and empowering others to generate a community of creativity, collaboration, satisfaction and successful performance, she said.
Welling noted she is “most excited about creating a program founded on biblical teaching and social justice.”
She has experience in program creation and has facilitated the development of two Master of Science in Nursing degree programs, a practical nurse program, extensive Bachelor of Science in Nursing expansions and hybrid degree programs, and she designed five simulation labs.
She received the Registered Nurse diploma from Methodist College of Nursing in Omaha, Neb., her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Detroit Mercy, a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Regis University’s Rueckert-Hartman School for Health Professions and a Ph.D. from New Mexico State University.
She and her husband, Dave, have four children—Ryan, who is deceased, Nikole, Makenna and Sidney.
When asked why she chose to join the Hardin-Simmons faculty, Welling said: “This place is different. You can feel Christ permeate the campus. It feels good.”
And, she added, teaching at HSU offered a benefit not available at every university.
“I needed to be able to pray with students,” she said.
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