MSOE’s School of Nursing has been recognized for its education of nursing students and named a Nursing College of Distinction. The honor comes from Colleges of Distinction, an organization that highlights colleges for their programs and other attributes to best help high school students and their families in the college searching process.

As a Nursing College of Distinction, the MSOE School of Nursing had to meet the following criteria to receive the honor:

• Stability and excellence as core tenets of these nursing programs. Not only have these programs been awarding degrees for more than 10 years, but faculty are continually recognized for their impressive experience and research.
• Validation from the ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) and/or CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) for their commitment to quality and student success.
• Practical experiences that provide ample opportunities for students to apply their knowledge to the real world through internships, mentorship programs, and volunteer opportunities.
• High mastery rates in such standardized exams as the NCLEX and HESI A2.
• Dedicated advising and counseling available specifically for nursing students.
• Liberal arts exposure to make students culturally competent, well-rounded individuals with superior critical thinking and leadership skills.
• High-impact practices embedded into the curriculum.
• Industry connections cultivated by faculty and staff to help students build their network and find meaningful work.

“We are proud to have earned recognition as a Nursing College of Distinction,” said Dr. Carol Sabel, School of Nursing program director and professor. “Faculty and staff in the School of Nursing are dedicated to working with our students, often one-to-one, to encourage their success, using a variety of teaching strategies to meet the learning needs of all students. Our mission is to provide practice ready graduates who can impact change in complex health care environments.”

MSOE opened its School of Nursing in 1995 after a merger with the Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing (MCGHSN). With direct admission to programs and both a traditional and accelerated nursing degree track, nursing students at MSOE start their nursing courses freshman year followed by clinicals and hands-on learning in state-of-the-art labs and an on-campus simulation hospital their sophomore year.

The School of Nursing also offers a Master of Science in nursing with two focus areas—psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and nursing executive leadership—both offered in an online format to allow for increased flexibility for the working nurse. A post-masters psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certificate is also available.

Students in MSOE’s nursing program also have the opportunity to live in a Living Learning Community (LLC) their freshman year to experience academic support and community-building with fellow nursing students.