According to Nursing Schools Almanac, the MCPHS School of Nursing was ranked #51 nationally for private schools and #15 in New England among private and public schools. The research team at Nursing Schools Almanac evaluated over 3,200 schools on three dimensions:
- The institution’s academic prestige and perceived value;
- The breadth and depth of nursing programs offered; and
- Student success, particularly on the NCLEX national licensure exam.
The Almanac mentioned, “MCPHS students are #1 salary earners in New England, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Spread across three locations – Boston, Worcester, and Manchester, NH – MCPHS is one of the few private universities in the country specializing solely in the education of health professionals. Nursing students receive a broad-based healthcare education that prepares them well for licensure exams and future practice. For example, students at the school’s Worcester campus have achieved a 92% NCLEX pass rate over the past seven years.”
In addition, Best Nursing Colleges ranked MCPHS School of Nursing #252 nationally, which reflects top 10% in the nation (out of 2,704 schools) and #10 in Massachusetts (out of 54), #63 in the Northeast, which reflects top 13% (out of 469).
Finally, Nurse Journal ranked the MCPHS Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN/CAGS) program as #2 in Massachusetts.
Below is an interview with each campus associate dean within the MCPHS School of Nursing:
Prof. Tammy Gravel, Senior Associate Dean of Curriculum & Assessment and Worcester BSN, states, “The first cohort from the MCPHS SON post-baccalaureate program graduated from the Worcester campus in 2007. Over the last 10 years, the strong commitment of the nursing faculty have contributed to the consistent success of students and graduates. The NCLEX-RN pass rate from the Worcester campus consistently exceeds national benchmarks. Many of our alumni return to share their experiences with transition into the professional nursing role. In addition, many of our graduates return to our graduate program to advance their education. Finally, faculty and student commitment to the University and Worcester community have been formally recognized through agencies such as the American Heart Association.”
“As a nurse for 29-years, the role of the advanced practice nurse for the FNP and PMHNP excites me. The knowledge and skills the advanced practice nurse possess greatly impacts access to primary care providers, to include health promotion activities improving our overall health”, Prof. Gravel exclaimed. In fact, one of her favorite parts of being involved in the MCPHS School of Nursing community is the collegiality and dedication that the faculty and staff have on all campuses to achieve a similar vision of student and program excellence. “Being part of a health professions university, students and faculty work interprofessionally to advance the health care of the community”
BSN and MSN/FNP students on the Worcester campus participate in interprofessional education (IPE) activities with other students from the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, School of Medical Imaging and Therapeutics (Diagnostic Medical Sonography), School of Optometry, School of Pharmacy, School of Physical Therapy, and the School of Physician Assistant Studies. The MCPHS Worcester community is excited for the arrival of the New England School of Acupuncture, which formally joined MCPHS University in April 2016, and will be housed on this campus starting with the first cohort in September.
Dr. Gerard Tobin, Associate Dean of Graduate Nursing Studies and Manchester BSN, states, “We firmly believe in creating a culture of learning and partnership between our students and our faculty. Our aim is to really get to know our students – ask any current student and they will tell you – the open door policy and availability of faculty to students is ‘like nothing they have experienced before’. Our NCLEX-RN pass rates in Manchester are in the upper range of all schools in New England with an above 93% first time NCLEX, when the national pass rate is 87.49%.”
Dr. Tobin mentions, “In Manchester, all faculty hold a PhD/DNP, or are working towards completing their terminal degree. This ensures that faculty who are outstanding in their area of practice or expertise are preparing our students. Our curriculum is dynamic and responsive to our students’ needs; students have a strong voice and are involved in the direction and growth of the programs through their involvement in the school’s governance. We are a 21st century school who values an imaginative approach to student engagement, such as by using peer mentors and peer instructors in our state-of-the-art simulation laboratories throughout the accelerated program. We demonstrate excellence in education and student engagement. As MCPHS School of Nursing, we are innovative, enterprising and creating an ethos of support, integrity, trust, and a deep respect for valuing diversity.”
Dr. Tobin expressed that his favorite part of being part of the MCPHS School of Nursing community is “working alongside the accelerated students and watching them grow in confidence, ability, and skill. We have integrated our simulation laboratory into all of our classes so that students are immediately immersed into a ‘real world’ situation, alongside instructors and peer instructors in developing the skills needed to enable them to provide rich, evidence-based care when in practice.” Dr. Tobin continues, “There are so many opportunities opening up to our graduates. Holding a second baccalaureate degree and graduating from MCPHS places our graduates in excellent positions for employment. A number of our graduates have progressed onto PhD/DNP programs, while many transition into our own FNP, PMHNP, and Nurse Educator MSN programs.”
Dr. Paula James, Dean of Undergraduate Nursing, notes, “MCPHS has the only accelerated direct-entry BSN program in Boston, which offers students the opportunity to complete the program a year early, but while maintaining eight semesters of classes. Our campus is in the heart of the Longwood Medical and Academic Area; students enjoy the close proximity to premier hospitals. For instance, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, New England Baptist Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are all less than a half-mile walk from the MCPHS campus. In addition, our students benefit from the collaborative partnership with the Colleges of the Fenway, which includes Emmanuel College, Mass College of Art and Design, Simmons College, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Wheelock College, where students can cross-register classes and participate in extra-curricular activities.”
Dr. James mentioned that her favorite part of working at MCPHS University is the opportunity for IPE. “IPE provides students with the opportunity to interact with students of other disciplines in the academic environment, not just in the clinical arena. For instance, all students, faculty, and staff on the Boston campus are invited to attend Schwartz Rounds, which is an opportunity to explore the social and emotional issues associated with patient care.” As a member of the Cultural Diversity Panel, Dr. James noted how “cultural diversity is threaded throughout the curriculum, and we in nursing are often the front runners of providing cultural competent care, so our students can help coach and counsel other students in the university.” Finally, Dr. James noted that, “Although we have an urban campus, we have a strong community feeling. This is achieved through programs like the Mission Hill Community Health Fair, Late Night Breakfast (before finals), and activities provided through the Center for Campus Life and Leadership.”
Similar to the Worcester and Manchester campuses, Dr. James explains, “We know our students individually. The faculty know their students, and they meet with them on a regular basis. The professional working relationships with students creates a stronger community of fellowship and excellence. Our nursing students have been able to participate in Volunteer Morocco for the past two-years, and we hope to have more students on this year’s trip, which provides them with a “study abroad” feeling in a global cultural perspective for healthcare and nursing. Finally, the nursing student organizations – Class Ambassadors (class representatives), National Student Nurses’ Association, Nursing Students Without Borders, Health and Wellness Ambassador Group, and Nursing Peer Advisory Group – allows our students to explore their leadership skills while making a positive mark on the SON and MCPHS University.”
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