About the School of Nursing

  • The School of Nursing at Pacific Lutheran University is a professional school that combines nursing science with a strong foundation in natural sciences and the liberal arts.
  • PLU has offered the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree since 1951, the master of science in nursing (MSN) degree since 1990, and the doctor of nursing practice degree since 2015.
  • The BSN program prepares students as skilled generalists and provides a foundation for graduate study. The program also responds to the educational and technological learning needs of practicing nurses to remain current, competent practitioners and/or to revise their practice focus.
  • Outstanding, diversified clinical experiences and instruction are provided for all nursing students through over 100 cooperating health care agencies and community-based sites in the Tacoma metropolitan area. These agencies include the Multicare Health Care System with Good Samaritan, Tacoma General, Mary Bridge Children’s and Allenmore Hospitals; the Franciscan Health Care System with St. Joseph’s, St. Clare, and St. Francis Hospitals; Madigan Army Medical Center; Western State Mental Health Services; and Veterans Administration Hospital at American Lake.
  • The degree programs in nursing are defined as: the traditional BSN program, the accelerated BSN program, the BSN to MSN program,the Entry-Level MSN program for students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, and the DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) program. The DNP/MBA dual degree (Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Business Administration) is designed to prepare practicing nurses for high-level careers in management and administration. All of these degree programs are selective and require applicants to meet additional criteria.
  • About 30 percent of graduate students publish articles in professional journals after completing the MSN at PLU.
  • The School of Nursing is one of the first two nursing programs in the State of Washington to offer an accelerated-entry master’s degree program. This program, officially named the Entry-Level MSN program, admits qualified students with baccalaureate degrees in fields other than nursing. Students complete 15 months of intensive preparation for RN licensure and continue to complete the coursework necessary for this generalist MSN degree with a focus of a Nurse Educator or Nurse Leader.
  • The School requires a minimum of a master’s degree in nursing for faculty appointments. The doctorate is required for tenure-track appointments.
  • The members of the nursing faculty represent a wide range of specialty nursing areas from over 30 academic institutions.
  • A majority of the graduate nursing faculty is certified as advanced practice nurses (midwives, family nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists).
  • Many of the School’s alumni have made notable contributions to health care and the nursing profession.

Center for Continued Nursing Learning (CCNL)

  • Consistent with the service mission of the School, the Center for Continued Nursing Learning (CCNL) is an integral part of SoN that provides both academic and non-academic offerings to the nursing community at large, as well as PLU students and faculty.
  • CCNL’s programs vary in length and format and typically number 30-35 per year, addressing the needs of nurses in the surrounding geographical area.
  • Pacific Lutheran University Center for Continued Nursing Learning (CCNL) is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Montana Nurses Association, an accredited approver with distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
  • Every year CCNL develops and disseminates a calendar that is shared with over 20,000 nurses and local health care agencies.

Other Notable Facts

  • The School has received federal funding through the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) for nurse traineeships (scholarship grants) since its first graduating class in 1992.
  • Delta Iota Chi, the nursing student organization, coordinates two blood and bone marrow donation drives on campus every year, a holiday turkey basket drive, and a toy donation program for the Pierce County Fire Department.