Welcome to the School of Nursing & Health Studies
Greetings, and welcome to the School of Nursing & Health Studies website! We hope you will find our site to be a helpful tool as you search for information on our programs. A little bit more about us: we are a school that is constantly in motion, working to improve and expand our programs and student services to continue to meet the needs of our students and the community. We have just concluded several of our busiest years ever, from raising funds to complete the new Health Sciences Building to seeing it actually built before our very eyes, to being here in our new home and experiencing the impact it has on our students on a daily basis. It makes me realize how truly fortunate we are. These improvements will serve to enhance the UMKC experience for our students and prepare them well for the future.
Our current enrollment numbers stand at nearly 1,400 for all of our degree programs. We graduated our 7th Pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) class in May (2011) and are so proud of these students that will help assist with the nursing shortage in our community and across the Nation. Our BSN students continue to do well on their NCLEX licensure exams and our MSN students excel on certification exams, which means they are well prepared for their services throughout the community. This year, our students exceeded the national averages in all five Nurse Practitioner certification exams. In Fall, 2011 we initiated a brand new degree program that will help students find their way in the many and varied opportunities abounding in health-oriented careers. It is a non-nursing degree program called the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHS) and we think it will be a very popular choice for students looking for non-licensed careers in health today.
The UMKC School of Nursing & Health Studies continues to pursue research interests in two main areas, Women’s and Children’s Health. We are a center of excellence in health and education for these topics and are very proud of the nurse researchers and educators that are working daily to make lives better for these vulnerable populations. We also continue to excel in helping the nursing profession move towards a more diverse workforce by supporting and encouraging a diverse student population. We have consistently reported above the National average for diversity in our student population and work to ensure retention and success for all students.
As we enter the next growth phase of the School of Nursing & Health Studies, we hope you'll consider helping us along the way. Your support will allow us to provide scholarships to students in great need, carry out important community programs, continue critical research endeavors, and improve and enhance nursing education by providing unique educational opportunities for students at the School of Nursing & Health Studies. Whether it's in the form of a donation, volunteering for a committee, service on the Alumni Association Board, or starting your caring career in nursing, we look forward to serving you and the community at large.
Sincerely,
Lora Lacey-Haun, R.N., Ph.D.
Dean and Professor