Vanderbilt University School of Nursing has again been named one of the nation’s “Best Graduate Schools” in the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings. The School of Nursing’s Master of Nursing Science program moved up to No. 14 from No. 15 and its Doctor of Nursing Practice program continued as the No. 11 ranked DNP in the U.S.
Additionally, six of VUSN’s specialties were ranked. All of them were named to the nation’s Top 10. The school’s Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialties were ranked the N0. 2 best in the country.
The Adult–Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty rose to No. 3 from No. 7, tied with Duke University and Johns Hopkins University. Informatics rose to No. 3 from No. 4, Family Nurse Practitioner rose to No. 5 from No. 6, and Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner moved to No. 8 from No. 3 in last year’s rankings.
Dean Linda D. Norman, DSN, FAAN, was pleased with the 2019 rankings for the school. “To be ranked No. 14 for our MSN and No. 11 for our DNP speaks to the quality of our students, faculty and programs,” she said. “Our reputation for a rigorous curriculum, comprehensive clinical training and innovative research environment is well-known and continues to draw the best nursing students in the country, as well as the respect of our peer institutions.”
Norman, who also holds the Valere Potter Menefee Chair in Nursing, said that while the rankings are gratifying, they reflect only a small portion of the School of Nursing’s impact. “A strong indicator of VUSN’s true value comes every May, August and December, when our talented students finish their programs and take their places as practice-ready professionals or nurse scholars focused on making a difference in health care and for patients everywhere,” she said.
To determine scores for nursing schools, U.S. News & World Report uses a ranking methodology based on a weighted average of 14 indicators.
The data comes from statistical surveys sent to administrators of 552 accredited schools of nursing which offer master’s or doctoral programs. Specialty program rankings are based on assessments by nursing school deans and deans of graduate studies who identify up to 10 schools offering the best programs in each specialty area. The surveys and assessments were conducted fall 2017 and early 2018.
Image: MSN graduates Kaitlin Brown and Abisola “Abi” Ibrahim during 2017 Commencement ceremonies.
Photo: Susan Urmy