A New Era in Nursing Education: Vision and Leadership with Bonny Kehm
The latest episode of Nursing Uncharted explores an extraordinary journey in nursing, education, and leadership with Bonny Kehm, the founding dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Columbia Southern University (CSU).
Meet Bonny Kehm
Bonny Kehm brings a wealth of experience and passion to nursing. She began as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in 1996 and progressed through roles as a Registered Nurse (RN), advanced practice nurse, educator, and eventually earned her Ph.D. With experience in clinical settings like pediatrics, neonatal ICU, med-surg, and leadership roles in academia, she has dedicated her career to empowering nurses at every stage of their journey.
Beyond her impressive credentials, Bonny serves as a board member on the Missouri State Board of Nursing. By blending her personal experiences in the field with leadership perspectives, she has navigated substantial challenges — such as leading through the COVID-19 pandemic — and channeled the lessons learned into transformative initiatives.
Innovating Nursing Education for Tomorrow’s Workforce
This episode explores how Bonny founded a groundbreaking College of Nursing and Health Sciences at CSU, which aims to break barriers and foster leadership among nurses. Rooted in her lived experiences, her goal was to reimagine education, making it accessible, flexible, and attuned to the realities of nurses’ personal and professional lives.
Features of CSU’s nursing programs include:
- Seven New Nursing Degrees: Programs include an RN-to-BSN track, three distinct Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees — Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, and Leadership in Healthcare Systems — and three accelerated RN-to-MS options that allow students to simultaneously earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
- Accessibility and Flexibility: Programs are 100% online, affordable, and designed to be accessible on any device, at any time. This caters to working nurses, caregivers, and individuals in rural or underserved areas.
- Streamlining Education: Strategies like integrating course content with podcast-style lectures give students the flexibility to learn on the go, whether commuting or managing household duties.
Bonny explained the origin, saying “I saw gaps in access to education. For me, I didn't have opportunities to education the way that some of my colleagues had, which caused me to see the gap of access to education because I live in a rural area. Getting to work can be a challenge, let alone making it to a traditional brick-and-mortar school. That’s why I wanted to be part of creating a solution to make things easier.”
Empowering Nurses: A Leader’s Vision
One of the standout moments in the episode is Bonny’s discussion of how nurses are often leaders without realizing it. “I never saw myself as a leader or aimed for a leadership role, but I think nurses naturally are. My curiosity and strong sense of purpose steered me to leadership roles. I was asked to be the charge nurse or mentor a student, and it felt like a natural fit. Problem-solving has brought me into leadership. Every nurse listening might think, "I’m not a leader," but we all are.”
Advice for Nursing Leaders:
- Leadership begins with solving problems and creating pathways for others.
- Collaboration and diverse thinking hold the key to holistic solutions.
- Nurses should embrace their innate leadership roles and step into opportunities that push them beyond their comfort zone.
Her leadership philosophy is simple, yet profound: “Leadership is not about titles. Some of the best nurses I had didn’t have titles. It’s about the impact, and the best leaders empower others.”
Innovations Born of Necessity: Adapting to COVID-19 Challenges
Bonny explains how the COVID-19 pandemic inspired changes in nursing education and healthcare delivery. As a state board member, she saw nurses adapt with resilience, empathy, and clear focus, motivating her to develop solutions like CSU’s online programs to prepare the workforce for complex challenges.
She also highlights her work on Missouri’s medic-to-nurse pathway, which helps military veterans with healthcare experience gain nursing licensure. This initiative has enabled over 1,200 veterans to become licensed nurses.
Key Takeaways
1. Education Built for You
CSU’s nursing programs offer accessible, affordable, and flexible options so you can continue your education while managing work and personal commitments.
2. Lead Through Action
Nurses shape healthcare every day by educating patients and solving frontline problems. Your leadership already makes an impact.
3. Act Now
Stop waiting for the “perfect time” to pursue education or leadership roles. The perfect time is now.
4. Explore New Paths
Programs like CSU’s medic-to-nurse initiative and integrated curricula open doors to new opportunities and solutions in nursing.
This episode is a must-listen for nurses at every stage of their career. Listen to the full episode of Nursing Uncharted and learn how education, innovation, and leadership can help nurses reimagine the possibilities in nursing.
