22154818211_28038db456_kWinona State University has been identified as having one of the top graduate nursing programs in America, ranking 36th out of 50 by the Top Master’s in Healthcare Administration.

Top Master’s in Healthcare Administration uses guidelines from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to research graduate schools based on program flexibility, faculty involvement in the healthcare field, and tuition cost.

“Our graduate nursing program has a long history of excellence,” Dean of College of Nursing and Health Sciences William McBreen, Ph.D., R.N., said. “Feedback from alumni and employers of our graduates is consistently very high and reflective of the level of commitment our faculty has to graduating outstanding nurse leaders.”

WSU nursing faculty has also been recognized regionally and nationally for innovation, teaching excellence, and community engagement. This recognition includes a past award from the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty (NONPF) for outstanding faculty practice program.

“We are very pleased for the acknowledgement by Top Master’s In Healthcare as one of the best 50 graduate nursing programs nationwide,” Sonja J. Meiers, Ph.D., RN, Director of the Department of Graduate Nursing said. “We are honored to be among this group of academic peers with an award highlighting our reputation as a program of value in demand, flexible, and led by faculty at the ‘head of the class’ in practice, experience, and knowledge.

The WSU Master’s Nursing Program was praised by Top Master’s in Healthcare Administration for its clinical affiliations with Alina Health, Gundersen Lutheran Health System, the Mayo Clinic Health System and Mercy Medical Center, its flexible programs that accommodate working professionals, and its wide range of specializations available.

“I have a family and I work full-time,” Jen Ellefson, 2015 graduate of the adult gerontology acute care nursing program said. “When the Winona State University-Rochester Acute Care Graduate Nursing Program became available, I thought this was my chance because my classes and clinical rotations were at WSU-Rochester and Mayo Clinic. Some days are challenging and long days, but it has been the best decision for my nursing career.”

For more information, contact William McBreen at WMcbreen@winona.edu.