Master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice listed among top programs in country
The University of Rhode Island College of Nursing graduate programs have soared in national ranks, jumping into the top 11 percent among master’s programs in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report, which released its new rankings Tuesday.
The College’s master’s program ranked 66th in the nation, tied with the University of St. Louis and the University of Massachusetts Boston, placing it in the top 11 percent of 578 nursing colleges that responded to the survey. Additionally, the URI College of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program ranked 85th in the nation, placing it in the top 26% of 319 responding nursing schools across the country.
The rankings are a big improvement over last year, when the College’s masters and DNP programs were ranked #90 and #112, respectively.
“It truly takes a village, and an excellent one at that, to prepare the next generation of health care workers and nurse scientists. The monumental efforts of our dynamic faculty is reinforced by today’s release,” said Dean Barbara Wolfe. “As always, we remain committed to preparing nurses to excel as outstanding and compassionate clinicians, scholars and leaders who will enhance the health and health care of individuals, communities and populations both locally and globally. I look forward to the continued and future exemplary contributions of the College as a dynamic catalyst for improving health and transforming health care.”
For the Best Nursing Schools rankings, U.S. News surveyed nursing schools across the country with masters or doctoral programs accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Seven ranking indicators are used in both the master’s and DNP ranking models. These common factors are research activity indicators, faculty credentials, the percentage of faculty members with important achievements and faculty participation in nursing practice. An additional seven indicators specific to each degree type are also examined.
Both rankings take into account the ratings of academic experts. To collect this data, nursing school deans and deans of graduate studies were asked to rate the academic quality for both master’s and DNP programs at nursing schools on survey instruments.
Better than one-third of the URI College of Nursing’s faculty members are Fellows in national nursing organizations, including the American Academy of Nursing, and several have recently been honored for their research, which offers students opportunities to participate in dynamic projects. The number of faculty publications, external faculty grant proposals and committed gifts to the College have all increased over the last year as the College continues to impact health and health care.
In addition to the DNP program, the URI College of Nursing offers a Master’s program with several concentrations including Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner. The College’s graduate school also offers a Ph.D. program in nursing.