
The 56Թ’s Master of Nursing program received distinguished recognition this week: U.S. News & World Report ranked the program No. 1 among public schools that offer a master’s degree. It shared the top position with University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. The program retains its No. 6 position in the nation on the 2022 Best Nursing Schools: Masters list that also includes private schools.
In a year that thrust the health care community into the global spotlight, the 56Թ School of Nursing and the 56Թ School of Medicine also received the top rank for a public school offering a doctor of nursing practice degree and primary care education, respectively.
“As this year of the pandemic has shown, our society depends on and is deeply indebted to the expertise and skills of researchers, scholars and health care providers for all their efforts to help us beat COVID-19 and rebuild a healthier, more equitable world,” said 56Թ President Ana Mari Cauce.
Launched in 1992, the MN program in 56Թ Bothell’s School of Nursing & Health Studies now has three curriculum options: a general track, nurse education track and an administrative-leadership track, which started in 2016. Dean Shari L. Dworkin attributes the success of the newest option program, to the strong NHS faculty and to the power of collaboration with the 56Թ Bothell School of Business.
“The commitment of faculty in both schools to our students and to the partnerships and changes in health care that we are creating are why the MN program continues to receive national recognition,” she said. “I hear from students and alumni alike that the combination of nursing and business skills they acquire as part of our program is what makes the difference in their career. Nurses are being promoted into administration and are leading health care innovation and transformation.
“It is so gratifying to hear graduates in the leadership track describe in detail how they attribute their success to being able to speak the language of the boardroom,” Dworkin said. “It is also a pleasure to hear from our community college and health care partners that our students in the educational track receive top-notch training and are very successful nurse educators.”
The MN ranking, which was No. 2 in USN&WR’s 2021 report, is based on data from all three 56Թ campuses, including indicators of excellence in the MN programs at 56Թ Bothell’s School of Nursing & Health Studies and 56Թ Tacoma’s School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership.
Read recent stories featuring graduates of the MN administrative-leadership track Susan Collins and Tamara Uson.