School of Nursing

The �ǿ��޴�ý Difference

�ǿ��޴�ý’s top-ranked School of Nursing empowers nursing students to meet the healthcare needs of individuals, families and communities. Our faculty provide one-on-one instruction in cutting-edge nursing environments, and our students are campus leaders whose specialized education, on-the-job training and vital community involvement drive their career success.

Professional Nursing Education

Professional nursing education at �ǿ��޴�ý accurately reflects James �ǿ��޴�ý’s vision of the university as an institution where the scientific, the practical, and the industrial shall have a place of equal importance, side by side, with the literary and the classical. Nursing is a profession recognized for its intentional blend of the rigorous application of scientific knowledge with the art of caring. The framework for the nursing curricula at �ǿ��޴�ý incorporates the School of Nursing mission, goals, and outcomes under the core concepts of person, nursing, environment, and health. For information on accreditation, visit our Accreditation page.

$3.2M HealthSciences Center

The state-of-the-art facility opened in Spring 2024 and features the Campbell Family Nursing Simulation Center, Health Assessment Lab, a collaborative graduate learning space and various office spaces.

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School of Nursing

We prepare students for professional success. Our students have a 100% job placement rate and are highly sought by prestigious health care facilities across the country. Our graduates practice evidenced-based care within an ethically-grounded framework, they engage in life-long learning, and they strive to become leaders in the nursing profession.

Now Open! New Nursing Simulation Center
Programs of Study
Students entering the School of Nursing may earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.
- Nursing Leadership Completion, DNP
  
  The Doctor of Nursing Practice Completion in Leadership Program is for Registered Nurses holding a master's degree in nursing who want to complete the practice doctorate as their highest earned academic degree. The DNP is a practice-focused doctorate similar in scope to those practice doctorates offered in other professional disciplines.
- Nursing (Bachelor of Science)
  
  Benefit from direct entry, guaranteeing a seamless transition into the School of Nursing. Our nursing graduates have a 100% placement rate and are highly sought after by prestigious health care facilities across the country.
- Nursing APRN Completion Program, DNP
  
  For nurses who want to complete the practice doctorate as their highest earned academic degree, the Doctor of Nursing Practice is a practice-focused doctorate similar in scope to those practice doctorates offered in other professional disciplines.
- Nursing: Master's Entry into Nursing Practice, MSN
  
  Designed for individuals with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees, the Master's Entry Into Nursing Practice (MENP) is an accelerated, full-time program facilitates your smooth transition into professional nursing. �ǿ��޴�ý’s MENP program is one of only a handful of accredited programs in Illinois.
- Nurse Educator, MSN
  
  The Nurse Educator track is designed for nurses who seek opportunities teaching in a school of nursing, a continuing education program, or a staff development role. A strong emphasis is placed on experiential learning opportunities focusing on teaching pedagogy and assessment of learning.
- Nurse Practitioner, Family, DNP
  
  �ǿ��޴�ý University's Doctor of Nursing Practice: Family Nurse Practitioner DNP (FNP) is a clinical doctorate program that prepares BSN or MSN nurses to the highest level of clinical expertise and advanced practice nursing. Our students will receive personalized support from a dedicated nursing advisors and will be enrolled as a cohort group that will advance through the program together.
- Nurse Anesthesia, DNP
  
  The School of Nursing, in conjunction with Decatur Memorial Hospital, offers the opportunity for the Professional Registered Nurse who holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, or who holds a Master of Science in Nursing degree, to complete the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with specialization as a Registered Nurse Anesthetist (DNP-NAP).
Mission of the School of Nursing

The nursing programs at �ǿ��޴�ý University encourage personal and professional success by producing nurses who:

Grow in personal and professional knowledge throughout their lifetimes;

Provide excellent healthcare that respects diverse, global communities;

Lead by demonstrating lives of meaning, value and contribution;

Are inspired to imagine and achieve a desired future for healthcare delivery

Preparing for a Life of Meaning

The School of Nursing faculty earnestly believes that the best nurse is one who is well-rounded, both professionally and personally. We are committed to delivering on the promise of education as described in the mission of the University.

We prepare students for democratic citizenship in a global environment. Our nursing curricula are soundly based both upon the liberal arts and the natural sciences. This places our graduates in the unique position to work with individuals from a variety of cultures, to think critically, and to act as advocates for our patients’ well-being – both within and outside of the formal health care system.

We prepare students for a personal life of meaning and value. Our students have the opportunity to be engaged as integral members of the University and their broader communities. Our alumni consistently demonstrate active engagement in leadership, service, and community outreach.