Loyola's graduate nursing program earns recognition from U.S. News

U.S. News & World Report has ranked Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing's graduate program in the top 50 nationwide.

"The school is honored to be recognized for the high-caliber education we offer students," said Vicki A. Keough, PhD, RN-BC, ACNP, dean, Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. "Our students should feel confident knowing they are receiving world-class preparation that fully equips them to meet the challenges of the profession."

U.S. News & World Report's Best Graduate Schools 2012 article is available online at www.usnews.com/education. Highlights of the rankings will be featured in the print edition, which is available on newsstands this week.

U.S. News surveyed 467 graduate schools of nursing for this list. All rankings were based on the results of peer-assessment surveys sent to deans, other administrators and faculty at accredited schools.

The Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing was founded in 1935 as the first baccalaureate nursing program in Illinois. Today, the school is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Top-rated programs are offered at all levels. These include undergraduate, graduate and doctoral nursing programs, health systems management, dietetic internship and dietetic master's programs as well as certificate courses for professional nurses.

Loyola University Chicago will break ground on a new Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing building and Center for Collaborative Learning on the Loyola University Health System campus in Maywood. This event will take place from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, at the health sciences campus at 2160 S. First Ave.

"This building will mark our commitment to a collaborative educational experience for nursing, medical and allied health professionals," Dean Keough said. "This is a progressive approach to education, which will better prepare our students for leadership roles within the health-care team and also give them the knowledge and skills to meet the clinical challenges of the future."