UCLA School of Nursing facts for kids
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| Motto | Nursing Reimagined. Nursing Redefined. |
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| Type | Public |
| Established | 1949 |
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Parent institution
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University of California, Los Angeles |
| Dean | Lin Zhan, PhD, RN, FAAN |
| Location | , , |
The UCLA School of Nursing is a special school at UCLA. It teaches students how to become nurses. You can find it in Los Angeles, California. The school is in a building called the Factor Building. It's right next to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, a big hospital.
This school is known as one of the best nursing schools in the United States. It often ranks high for its master's and bachelor's degree programs. The school also gets a lot of money for important research. This helps them study new ways to improve health care.
Contents
How the School Started
Early Nursing Classes at UCLA
UCLA is a large public university. It first opened its doors in 1919. Nursing education at UCLA began a long time ago, in 1929. Back then, nurses could take special courses. These courses helped them get certificates in public health.
In 1932, a group of public health nurses wanted more. They asked for a special department for nursing education. In 1937, Dr. Elinore Beebe became the first director. She led the Public Health Nursing program.
The 1940s brought many changes and growth. A new Bachelor of Science degree was created. In 1946, the nursing department grew even more. New teachers joined to help train nursing supervisors.
Creating a Nursing School
In 1949, a leader named Professor Lulu K. Wolf joined UCLA. She came from Vanderbilt University. Her job was to create a brand new nursing school at UCLA. Wolf had a strong background in nursing. She graduated from the Army School of Nursing in 1924.
The University of California leaders agreed to open the school. This happened in 1949. The UCLA School of Nursing became part of the UCLA health sciences group. Lulu Wolf was chosen as the school's first dean.
In 1950, the school opened its first programs. Students could earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in nursing. The next year, a Master of Science (MS) degree program started. This allowed nurses to study even more.
In the 1960s, the school worked with many countries. These included Columbia, Egypt, and Japan. This led to more students from around the world. In 1986, a Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc) degree began. This was for students who wanted to do advanced research.
Over the years, the names of the degrees changed. The Master of Nursing (MN) became the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). The Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc) became the PhD in Nursing.
In 2006, the school brought back its traditional BS program. This program is for students starting college. They also added a new Master's Entry Clinical Nurse (MECN) program. This is for students who already have a bachelor's degree in another subject.
The UCLA School of Nursing programs are highly approved. They meet the standards of important nursing organizations. This means students get a great education.
What You Can Study
The UCLA School of Nursing offers several ways to become a nurse. They have five main degree programs:
- Bachelor of Science (BS): This is for students starting college. It prepares them to become licensed nurses.
- Master's Entry Clinical Nurse (MECN): This program is for people who already have a college degree in something else. It helps them switch to a nursing career.
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): This is for nurses who already have a bachelor's degree. It helps them become advanced practice nurses.
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): This degree is for students who want to do research. They learn how to discover new things in nursing.
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): This program focuses on advanced nursing practice. It helps nurses become leaders in healthcare.
Students learn in classrooms and in real hospital settings. The school also offers summer research programs. These are for college students who want to explore nursing research. They can study topics like health differences or how the body works.
Important Research
Scientists at the UCLA School of Nursing study many health topics. They come from different fields like nursing, medicine, and public health. All of them work to make people healthier. They want to improve lives at every age.
Here are some examples of their research:
- How heart problems and sleep issues affect the brain.
- Ways to prevent and treat skin sores.
- Finding new treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
- Studying gene therapy for HIV/AIDS.
- How food choices can help with fertility.
- The effects of hookah smoking on the heart.
School Rankings
The UCLA School of Nursing is often ranked among the best.
- It was ranked #16 for its Master's programs by U.S. News & World Report.
- Its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program was in the top 10. These rankings were for 2021–2022.
The school's students also do very well on their licensing exams.
- For 2017–2018, 96% of BSN students passed their NCLEX exam.
- 95% of MSN students passed their NCLEX exam.
Leaders of the School
The school has had several deans (leaders) over the years:
- Lulu Wolf Hassenplug (the first dean, retired in 1968)
- Rheba de Tornyay (started in 1971)
- Mary E. Reres (started in 1977)
- Ada Lindsey (started in 1986)
- Marie J. Cowan (1997–2008)
- Courtney Lyder (2008–2015)
- Linda Sarna (2015–2021)
- Lin Zhan (2021–present)
Famous People from the School
Many important nurses and teachers have come from UCLA. Some of them are:
- Jeanne Quint Benoliel
- Bonnie Bullough
- Linda Burnes Bolton
- Kathleen Dracup
- Kristine M. Gebbie
- Afaf I. Meleis
- Sister Callista Roy
See Also
- List of nursing schools in the United States
- American Academy of Nursing
