University of Saint Marys Nursing Program Both OnCampus and Online Receives Accreditation



It's official, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Saint Mary (USM) has received accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)*. The nursing program gained initial accreditation in April 2008 for the maximum period of five years. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) agency is a national accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. USM offers both an on-campus and online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (http://nursing.stmary.edu) both of which received accreditation.

This news was very exciting indeed for the faculty and nursing students at University of Saint Mary. "You could hear the campus nursing students cheer when they received the news," shared Laura Davis, vice president of marketing and communications at USM. The online nursing students (http://nursing.stmary.edu) were very excited when they received this news as well.

USM is a built on a strong academic tradition dating back to 1858, when education and nursing were the two founding missions of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, sponsors and founders of the university. However, in 1994 it was decided by the university to discontinue an RN to BSN nursing program due to the global surplus of nurses. In order to serve the current critical need for baccalaureate-prepared nurses, USM reinstated the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in fall 2006.

Because current projections for the demand of bachelor-trained nurses will greatly increase over the next 10 years, in August 2006, USM launched an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (http://nursing.stmary.edu) so that registered nurses from across the country can participate in the program. Designed and taught by nursing experts, the online RN to BSN degree program can be completed in as little as 18 months and requires no on-campus visits. This online BSN also features mentoring experiences as a practical alternative to clinical hours.

"Now with CCNE accreditation, the BSN program at University of Saint Mary is accepted nationwide by other notable institutions, which is critical for BSN nurses entering a diverse workforce and/or continuing their nursing education to a graduate or doctoral level," said Rebecca Cahill, RN, MSN, nursing program director.

*Information related to this accreditation may be obtained by contacting CCNE @ One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 887-6791 Fax: (202) 887-8476.

To learn more about the RN to BSN online program (http://nursing.stmary.edu) at University of Saint Mary, call toll-free

1-877-EARN-BSN (327-6276), or visit the website at www.nursing.stmary.edu.

About University of Saint Mary

The University of Saint Mary is a private, four-year Catholic university founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The main campus is located at 4100 South 4th Street in Leavenworth, Kan., with additional locations offering accelerated degree-completion and graduate programs in Overland Park, Shawnee, and Kansas City, Kan.

The Princeton Review has repeatedly recognized USM, ranking it as a "Best Midwestern College" in 2006, 2007, and 2008, and as one of "America's Best Value Colleges" for 2007 and 2008.





University of Saint Marys Nursing Program Both OnCampus and Online Receives Accreditation