 |
Terry Miller, PhD, RN Dean and Professor |
Thank you for providing me with this opportunity to introduce you to one of the best nursing schools and small liberal arts based universities in the United States. Whereas we demand scholarship, we emphasize service and excellence in teaching first and foremost. Our mission is to promote and facilitate the individual's development as a professional nurse for lifelong learning and human service.
What we offer you depends upon your goals, experience and educational
background. We admit two classes of undergraduates per year, one in the
fall and one in the spring. Our undergraduate programs are tailored to
the generic baccalaureate student pursuing the BSN, the LPN pursuing
the BSN, and the RN pursuing the MSN, but who does not have a BSN
degree. The distinctiveness of each of these three groups is recognized
and supported equitably and appropriately.
Our graduate program culminates with the student earning the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree through one of two concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
or the Care and Outcomes Manager
(COM). Classes for our basic MSN program are designed for BSN-prepared
RNs, who can study part-time or full-time with convenient class schedules.
In 2003 we enrolled our first class in the specialized Entry-Level MSN program,
which allows students with a non-nursing Bachelor's degree to gain RN
licensure in 15 months and go on to complete the MSN in 36 months of
study.
Whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student, you are recognized as an individual learner who comes with a contextual background relevant to your learning and career development.
We recognize there are many ways that you can pursue nursing education. We also know that cost, convenience and quality are three critical variables influencing your decision-making. I encourage you to access all the information linked with Pacific Lutheran University and especially the School of Nursing. We want any decision you make in relation to us to be well informed and up-to-date.
Small class size and variety of instruction by doctoral prepared faculty having strong, active clinical backgrounds, enhance the quality of our programs. Our faculty and staff work as team to facilitate your learning in all of our programs. Interdisciplinary learning is characteristic of many of our course offerings. We continuously update and strive to improve our curricula. Our faculty is committed to staying current in their specialty and many maintain active practices in addition to scholarly production.
There is a myth that small private universities are only for the rich
and that diversity is not supported. Over 80 percent of our students at
Pacific Lutheran University receive significant financial assistance
through scholarships, traineeships, work-study, and/or financial aid.
Many of our nursing students work while attending college. Subsequently
we schedule classes to best meet the learning needs of our students and
offer programs both on and off campus. Instead of chalk and talk or
just throwing a course on the web, we involve our students in active
learning projects and encourage their involvement in activities that
will help them succeed as a nurse and as a productive member of society
as a whole.
Our students, faculty and staff come from diverse backgrounds and we strongly support open intellectual inquiry and civil discourse as essential to one's professional development. We encourage service learning and have our own Wellness Center: a nurse-managed center that provides direct health care services to predominantly lower socioeconomic groups.
We also provide excellent continuing education for nurses and other
interested health care professionals. I encourage you to check out our
offerings frequently on this web site, recognizing that they are
updated each term. Many of our students choose to have an
"international experience" which means they spend a January term
studying abroad.
Our campus is not only located on 126 beautiful acres, housing wonderful facilities, it is also close to both major fresh and salt water bodies and some of the finest hiking, skiing, and camping terrain in the world. Three major metropolitan areas are available to you as a student with the PLU School of Nursing located in Tacoma, 40 minutes from Seattle and two hours from Portland. Being in or near these cities insures the best and latest clinical facilities for our student learning and faculty development. The historic state capitol of Olympia is also just thirty minutes away.
I encourage you to write, call or write us with specific questions or
for further information. We believe in serving our students to the best
of our ability and take our responsibility to respond to your inquiries
very seriously. After all, you could become a PLU alumnus, if you are
not one already.
Sincerely,
Terry Miller, PhD, RN
Dean and Professor