IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Nursing students at West Coast University currently in the Mental Health Theory course rotation had the opportunity to learn from guest lecturer Maribeth Russell, Director of Freedom Dogs, a California nonprofit organization that uses Specialty Service Dogs in a novel way as an adjunct to the rehabilitation process for wounded military personnel returning from armed conflict.

With more than 10,000 wounded service personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the ability to recognize signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), the signature injuries from these areas of conflict, has become a national crisis. Ms. Russell is a former ICU RN at UCSD Medical Center. In her previous line of work as a critical care nurse, she saw a rise in the demand to treat veterans affected with PTSD. Russell discussed with students the correlation between returning veterans who are transitioning from active duty to inactive duty and the growing rates of PTSD.

As we continually look for ways to introduce the latest nursing techniques into our classrooms, we are pleased to include this topic in our curriculum, said Dr. Barry Ryan, President of West Coast University. We are honored to partner with Freedom Dogs and support the important work they do in helping provide innovative solutions to the health issues faced by our returning troops.

Freedom Dogs currently works with Marines from the Wounded Warrior Battalion West at Camp Pendleton, California, and hopes to expand their program to additional branches of the military. Freedom Dogs pairs disabled Marines with a Specialty Service Dog / Trainer team for goal setting and treatment planning. The dog and trainer then conduct a series of therapeutic encounters that support and facilitate medically recommended activities. The dogs are trained to take directions from the Marines, who train the dogs to conduct daily routines. These therapeutic exercises reduce the impact of their disabling conditions on the Marines health, mobility, mood, and social interaction.

The West Coast University nursing students saw the benefits of a Specialty Service Dog firsthand through Charlie, a 10-year-old Labrador Retriever. He was not only able to give the students a visual of how the Specialty Service Dogs act, but to show how the dogs are extremely adaptable to any environment. Students were able to ask questions about a future in the critical care nursing field and how different approaches to diagnoses like PTSD can increase the probability of treatment for society in general.

In addition to sharing vital information on spotting signs of PTSD with the students, Freedom Dogs honored West Coast University by presenting Dr. Barry Ryan with the Friends of Freedom Dogs award for WCUs previous contribution to the organization.

About West Coast University

West Coast University is one of Southern Californias leading health care educators, offering programs in nursing, health care management and dental hygiene at campuses in Los Angeles, Orange County and Ontario, and nursing programs at its new campus in Dallas, Texas. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) awarded programmatic accreditation to WCUs Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs in October 2009 and its Master of Science in Nursing program in May 2012. WCUs Dental Hygiene program at the Orange County Campus is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) to offer the only Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) in the County. It is one of only four BSDH programs in California. West Coast University is institutionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC - http://www.wascsenior.org) and Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS http://www.acics.org). For more information, visit West Coast University. For regular updates on WCU news visit the Dr. Barry Ryan Blog.

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Dr. Barry Ryan Welcomes Freedom Dogs Director as Guest Lecturer to Nursing Students at West Coast University