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Overview

History

The Indiana University School of Nursing opened its doors in Indianapolis in 1914. Since that time, it has evolved into one of the nation's most eminent nursing schools.

Historical Milestones

1914    Indiana University Training School for Nurses opened at Indianapolis

1922    Alpha Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) was founded by six IUSON students

1932    Curricula established for Bachelor of Science in Nursing on Bloomington campus for public health nursing, administration and supervision of nursing service, and teaching in schools of nursing offered for registered nurses in Bloomington

1944    Division of Nursing Education placed in School of Education with preparation for teachers of science, nursing arts, medical-surgical, maternity, and pediatric nursing

1945    Master of Science in Nursing Education first offered at IU Bloomington

1950    Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program first offered

1956    Name of school officially changed to Indiana University School of Nursing

1957    Original National League for Nursing (NLN) accreditation for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program

1960    Last diploma school graduates

1961    Original NLN accreditation for the BSN Program

1962    MSN degree first offered

1965    All nursing programs organized into one administrative unit to form the School of Nursing, the 10th school of Indiana University

1968    Original NLN accreditation for the Associate of Arts Program, IUPUI

1968    Specialist in Clinical Nursing program approved

1970    Implementation of the RN-MSN mobility option

1974    School of Nursing building dedicated at IUPUI

1975    NLN accreditation for ASN Program continued to 1983, IUPUI

1976    Original American Nurses’ Association (ANA) accreditation for the Continuing Education program

1976    Doctor of Nursing Science (D.N.S.) program approved

1976    NLN accreditation for BSN and graduate programs continues

1978    First doctoral students admitted

1980    New upper-division baccalaureate curriculum initiated

1981    First Doctor of Nursing Science degree awarded

1982    NLN accreditation for BSN and graduate programs continued until 1990

1985    First master’s degree courses offered at five sites—Indiana Higher Education Telecommunications System (IHETS)

1985    Office of Nursing Practice established

1987    Approval of Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to ASN mobility option at IUPU Columbus

1989    School reorganized into academic departments

1990    Formal planning for a PhD program in nursing initiated

1990    Institute of Action Research for Community Health established

1991    Designation of Institute of Action Research for Community Health as a World Health Organization Collaborating for Healthy Cities

1991    Establishment of Mary Margaret Walther Program in Oncology Care Research

1993    Accreditation of BSN and MSN programs by the National League for Nursing for eight years

1995    Transition from DNS to PhD degree program approved

1996    First class of PhD in Nursing Science students admitted

1998    Emily Holmquist Endowed Professorship instituted

1998    Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Board of Commissioners granted IUPUI preliminary approval of the baccalaureate and master’s nursing education programs

2000    Accreditation of BSN and MSN programs continued by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission for eight years

2000    New 10-year accreditation of BSN and MSN programs by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

2003    First class of students in PhD in Nursing Science distance-accessible option admitted

2006    Appointment of first Edward W. and Sarah Stam Cullipher Chair

2006    Appointment of first Sally Reahard Chair

2006    Awarded designation as a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing

2006    Center for Research in Nursing Education was formed

2008    Grand opening of the Jean Johnson Schaefer Resource Center for Innovation in Clinical Nursing Education

2008    Designation of IUSON as a "system school" ended June 30, 2008

2008    Designation of IUSON as a "Core Campus School"-Bloomington, Columbus, Indianapolis

2009    Re-designation as a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence in Nursing Education to Promote the Pedagogical Expertise of Faculty, 2009 - 2012

2009    Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) approved by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education

2009    95th anniversary of nursing at Indiana University

2010    RN to BSN Degree Completion Program begins in coordination with the state-wide consortium of IU system Schools of Nursing

2011    Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

2011    Appointment of first Angela Barron McBride Professorship in Mental Health Nursing

2012    Re-designation as a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence in Nursing Education to Promote the Pedagogical Expertise of Faculty, 2012-2017

2012    Designation as a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence in Nursing Education to Advance the Science of Nursing Education, 2012-2016

2014    100th Anniversary of nursing at Indiana University

2015    IU School of Nursing Columbus, received independant CCNE accreditation

2016    Re-designation as a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence in Nursing Education to advance the Science of Nursing Education, 2016-2021.

2016    Ball Nurse's Sunken Garden re-dedication.

2016    Indiana University School of Nursing Champion Center for Cancer Control Research established.

2017    Re-designation as a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence in Nursing Education to Promote the Pedagogical Expertise of Faculty, 2017-2022.

2018    Indiana University School of Nursing Fort Wayne established.

Last updated April 2020