For two decades, pre-nursing at Pacific Lutheran College (PLC) was
offered in cooperation with Tacoma General Hospital, Swedish Hospital,
and the California Lutheran Hospital in Los Angeles.
The first indication that a bachelor's degree with a major in nursing
existed is identified in the 1945-46 PLC catalog. In the fall of 1950,
the nursing curriculum was submitted for consideration by the State of
Washington. On April 23, 1951, the State Board of Professional Nurse
Registration gave temporary approval for a Department of Nursing
Education at Pacific Lutheran College.
In September 1951, a cooperative agreement was signed between PLC and
Emanuel Hospital, in Portland, Oregon, agreeing to establish a program
in nursing. The clinical education would be at the Emanuel Hospital and
its affiliated agencies.
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| Emanuel Hospital |
Freda Al Peterson was the first director from 1951 to 1953. During
that time, R. Elaine Kraabel Morken was the Educational Director at
Emanuel Hospital. When Freda Al Peterson left PLC in 1953, R. Elaine
Kraabel Morken became director and served from 1953 to 1967. She was
followed by Dr. Doris Stucke, who served in that capacity from August
1967 until June 1982. Dr. Stucke was granted sabbatical leave, academic
year 1982-83, following which she retired to become professor emeritus.
In July 1982, Dr. Moira Mansell was appointed and served as Dean until
March 1989. Dr. Dorothy Detlor-Langan served as Dean of the School of
Nursing from 1989 to 1997, with Anne Hirsch serving in the role of
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Nursing Education and Dr. Cleo Pass as
Associate Dean, Graduate Nursing Education. In 1997, Dr. Anne Hirsch
assumed the role of Interim Dean for one year. Beginning August 1998,
Dr. Terry Miller assumed the role of Dean of the School of Nursing.
On September 17, 1958, full accreditation by the State Board of Professional Nurse Registration was granted. In April 1959, a consultation visit from the National Nursing Accrediting Service occurred. A new program which would allow nursing students to remain on campus for the entire four years was proposed, with full approval being received from the State Board of Professional Nurse Registration in January 1960. In June 1960, Pacific Lutheran College became Pacific Lutheran University. The Department of Nursing Education became the School of Nursing. In 1982, the title of the Director was changed to Dean.
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The undergraduate program encompasses three study sequences and is
approved by the Washington State Commission on Quality Assurance for
Nursing. The undergraduate program qualifies students for the Bachelor
of Science in Nursing degree and certifies them eligible to sit for the
examination for licensure as a Registered Nurse. The basic program is
four academic years in length. A sequence for registered nurses
pursuing the BSN was established in 1978. In the academic year 1997-98,
the RN-BSN program began being phased out. A new RN-MSN cohort program
was proposed to begin September 1999. Starting in the fall of 1990, an
LPN-BSN sequence of study was initiated and implemented by Professor
Shirley Coleman Aikin. This program, which allows LPNs to obtain the
baccalaureate degree following completion of
prerequisites, is the first of its kind in Washington State and the
Pacific Northwest.
In 1989, the faculty and Board of Regents approved a proposal for a
program of study leading to the Master of Science in Nursing degree.
The program is four semesters in length, offered over a 2-year period.
The first students began classes in February 1990, with the first
graduates completing the program in May and August, 1992. The MSN degree program includes two major concentrations. The
Care and Outcomes Manager concentration includes focus areas in Nurse
Education, Nursing Administration, and Clinical Nurse Specialist. The
Family Nurse Practitioner concentration qualifies graduates to sit for
the ARNP licensing examination in Washington state.
In 2003, the School of Nursing enrolled its first cohort in
the Entry-Level MSN program. The program is designed for students with
non-nursing
baccalaureate degrees to complete the graduate degree in nursing.
Students progress through an intensive 15-month courseload which
qualifies them for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination in Washington
State and progress directly into graduate coursework to complete the
MSN degree. The entire sequence of courses requires 36 months of study
to complete.
In 1981,
Continuing Nursing Education became a formal program within the School
of Nursing. The initial director was Dr. Cynthia Mahoney. In 1994, the
program was incorporated into the Center for Continued Nursing
Learning, and is directed by Dr. Patsy Maloney.
A fourth major component of the programs of the School of Nursing is
the Wellness Center, located in the University's East Campus building.
A nurse practitioner faculty member, Professor Joan Stiggelbout,
started the Center in the mid-1980's. The nurse-managed center makes a
major contribution to the School of Nursing and the University, as well as to the Parkland
Community. The current Wellness Center Director is Dana Zaichkin.
