Area Student Earns University of Mary 2021-2022 Student Nurse of the Year Honors
UMary remains No. 1 ranked nursing program in the nation by Mountain Measurement
BISMARCK, ND — The University of Mary chapter of the Nursing Student Association (NSA) has recognized Max, ND, native Christina Bingham as the Student Nurse of the Year (SNOY) for this school year. The SNOY award is to recognize an outstanding nursing student, to stimulate interest in the NSA, to promote communication between schools and students across North Dakota, and to stimulate public interest and awareness of nursing student activities.
“I am honored to have been named the 2022 University of Mary Student Nurse of the Year,” said Bingham. “As a student nurse, I have had the beautiful opportunity to encounter, support, and walk with people through their most vulnerable moments. I am grateful to be studying nursing at the University of Mary, and I look forward to the moments where I can be a light for my patients by mirroring Jesus' work in their lives.”
Bingham is part of University of Mary’s nursing program that is ranked No. 1 in America for the second time in three years by Mountain Measurement. Mary’s nursing graduates have passed their National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) on the first try — a 100% success rate. Mary’s prestigious nursing program is consistently at, or near the top every year. Grade-eligible nursing students at Mary receive their senior year free as part of the CHI-St. Alexius Scholarship.
Bingham was chosen through a three-part process. Faculty determined the six candidates from the junior nursing class. Student then voted for their top three finalists who were then interviewed by a panel of judges, and the SNOY chosen.
Personal and professional criteria for receiving SNOY include ability in public speaking; potential to develop physical, mental, emotional and spiritual qualities necessary for success as an individual and a nurse; the ability to express views on current events and problems; the ability to meet physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and social needs of patients; belief in elevated standards of nursing care demonstrated by word and actions; leadership; understanding of the principles behind nursing care; and loyalty to the profession.
“As a nurse, I would love to serve my local community and their health needs,” added Bingham. “I am currently open to all specialties of nursing, but I am particularly interested in the areas of pediatric nursing, maternity nursing, or rural health nursing.”
As SNOY for the local chapter, Bingham will serve as a chairperson for recruitment, conduct next year’s SNOY contest, and also attend and actively participate in local chapter events.
Whether in nursing, bioethics, occupational therapy, physical therapy, pre-med, or any of the school’s 30-plus academic programs in the health sciences, the Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences lives up to its mission — to prepare health care professionals anchored in moral courage, who respect and defend the life and dignity of the human person. For the more than 1200 students and professors in the health sciences alone, this reaffirms a stellar 60-year reputation for health care education that integrates genuine compassion with the utmost professional competence.
Anyone interested in the University of Mary nursing program can visit www.umary.edu/nursing, or contact enroll@umary.edu for more information.
About the University of Mary
True to its motto “lumen vitae” — The Light of Life — the University of Mary offers education for the whole of life through cutting-edge professional programs and graduate programs animated by moral courage and leadership in chosen professions and service to the community. A private, co-educational Catholic institution, the University of Mary welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds.
A Christian, Catholic, Benedictine institution founded in 1959 by the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, Mary offers nearly 60 bachelor’s, 19 master’s, and five doctoral programs—in business, education, nursing practice, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. The 19-sport Athletic Department adheres to its Greatness Through Virtue mission under the governance of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) conferences. With more than 3,800 students, Mary has locations in North Dakota, Montana, Arizona, Rome, Italy, as well as vibrant online offerings.