Nurses across the country are celebrated during the month of May, embracing an opportunity to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the invaluable contributions of nurses. At the front line of patient care, they are the backbone of a healthy society, but a critical shortage of nurses and other health professionals is limiting access to care in Iowa and across the nation. 

As the annual “Nurses Week” comes to a close on May 12 - Florence Nightingale's birthday - UNI looks forward to playing its part in meeting a need for more nurses with the launch of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program in fall 2024.

This program will prepare graduates who are clinically focused and practice ready. Our graduates will be proficient in situational awareness and clinical reasoning, allowing them to excel in the full spectrum of health care settings.

The program has already taken considerable steps over the past months to prepare for its first cohort. Executive Director of Nursing and Chief Academic Nurse Administrator Nancy Kertz, PhD, FNP-BC is leading strategic efforts to build curriculum that meets state and national accreditation requirements and forging relationships with regional service providers. The program also hired its first faculty member, and is currently searching for a nursing clinical coordinator. The first phase of building renovations, within the Innovative Teaching and Technology Center (ITTC), will begin in the coming weeks.