Conozca al profesorado de la Facultad de Enfermería Leach
Nursing is more than a career—it’s a calling. At University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, three generations of skilled, compassionate nurses have gone on to serve hospitals in Will County, Chicagoland and beyond. CCNE-accredited programs in the Cecily & John Leach College of Nursing prepare students to become confident clinicians and dedicated patient advocates through a high-quality nursing education, enriched by Franciscan values. Become a USF nurse today!
Nursing (MSN) – Online Delivery Format
– Family Nurse Practitioner
– Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
POST-MASTER’S CERTIFICATES
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at the University of St. Francis, are accredited by:
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
655 K Street NW
Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: 202-887-6791
The mission of the Leach College of Nursing at the University of St. Francis is to educate individuals to be accounting nursing professionals who integrate the Franciscan values of respect integrity, compassion and service. Our instructors provide a values-based Catholic education, exemplified by mutual respect between faculty, students and staff. The college provides a supportive environment that encourages the ongoing personal and professional growth of students, faculty and staff… preparing graduates to serve society through professional nursing training.
The Leach College of Nursing enjoys expanded facilities at the university’s St. Clare Campus, just down the road from the Main Campus, including simulation labs with mannequins, mock hospital rooms, practice exam rooms, classrooms, testing labs, study lounges and more.
Undergraduate Programs
National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)
Leach College of Nursing students have passed the exam at a stellar 94% first-attempt rate for 2026, which surpasses the national average of 91% and the Illinois average of 87%.
Graduate Programs
American Nurses Credentialing Center Certification (ANCC)
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification (AANP)
1. Theoretical and Empirical Knowledge for Evidence-based Practice: Incorporate theoretical and empirical knowledge from the physical, social, and behavioral sciences and humanities into evidence-based nursing practice through clinical judgment.
2. Effective, Compassionate, Ethical, Culturally Sensitive, and Holistic Nursing Care: Demonstrate effective and ethical clinical decision-making that promotes health, prevents illness and injury, and provides compassionate, culturally-sensitive, and holistic nursing care across the lifespan and in a variety of healthcare settings.
3. Quality Improvement and Culture of Safety:
Be accountable for safe nursing practice and quality of care through problem-solving, clinical reasoning, and utilization of data within complex systems of health care.
4. Advocacy and Social Justice:Function as a change agent to advance social consciousness of diversity and equity to promote population health through political involvement and advocacy while incorporating ethical principles.
5. Leadership: Demonstrate effective leadership through the competent coordination of patient care, resources, and cost-effective care with complex systems of healthcare.
6. Communication and Collaboration: Demonstrate effective collaboration among individuals, groups, interprofessional team members, and the community through excellent oral and written communication skills.
7. Informatics and Technologies: Utilize healthcare technologies and informatics effectively and ethically for communication, data collection, and safe nursing practice.
8. Professionalism: Demonstrate professionalism and contribute to the profession’s advancement by engaging in personal, professional, and leadership development through activities that foster resilience and well-being.
1. Theoretical and Empirical Knowledge for Evidence-based Practice: Synthesize nursing knowledge and related disciplines as evidence for nursing practice decisions through ethical conduct of scholarly activities and clinical reasoning.
2. Effective, Compassionate, Ethical, Culturally Sensitive, and Holistic Nursing Care: Promote ethical clinical decision-making, holistic person-centered care, and culturally-sensitive relationships at the level of advanced nursing practice.
3. Quality Improvement and Culture of Safety: Formulate quality improvement strategies by evaluating system-level data and integrating best evidence to promote safety and optimal system-level outcomes.
4. Advocacy and Social Justice: Advocate for improving the system’s capability and resources by addressing social determinants of health, equitable healthcare access, cost-effectiveness, and quality of care to diverse populations.
5. Leadership: Exemplify leadership roles and strategies to promote quality nursing practice within complex healthcare systems across the continuum of care.
6. Communication and Collaboration: Promote collaborative relationships with interprofessional team members, patients, families, and other stakeholders to enhance quality patient-centered care.
7. Informatics and Technologies: Apply information technologies and management skills ethically for the provision of efficient health care services, team collaboration, decision-making, and patient engagement in a variety of settings.
8. Professionalism: Cultivate the professional identity of nursing through modeling personal well-being, professional maturity, leadership, accountability to the profession, and a culture of lifelong learning.
1. Theoretical and Empirical Knowledge for Evidence-based Practice: Translate theoretical, scientific, and contemporary practice knowledge and other disciplines into clinical practice and advance scholarship through evaluating outcomes of evidence-based improvement strategies.
2. Effective, Compassionate, Ethical, Culturally Sensitive, and Holistic Nursing Care: Interpret and synthesize outcome data of personalized delivery of healthcare with respect to the cultural and spiritual beliefs of patients from diverse cultures.
3. Quality Improvement and Culture of Safety: Advance quality improvement practice through activities of modeling, tutoring, and disseminating outcomes within complex systems of health care.
4. Advocacy and Social Justice: Evaluate the risks to population health and policies addressing inequities and lead a collaborative approach to achieve equitable health through activities of advocacy and scholarship incorporating ethical principles.
5. Leadership: Lead team-based change initiatives through the thoughtful use of outcome metrics.
6. Communication and Collaboration: Enhance personal, collegial, and collaborative approaches which protect population health and enhance the effectiveness of patient-centered care.
7. Informatics and Technologies: Evaluate the use of technologies in health care and promote its ethical and safe use to support patient-centered care and equity in digital access to information.
8. Professionalism: Advance the profession through engaging in ongoing self-reflection, interdisciplinary peer and systems review, and leadership roles.
The University of St. Francis Upsilon Delta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International recognizes superior achievement and leadership qualities; fosters high professional standards; and encourages creative work. The honor society also works to strengthen the commitment to the ideals and purposes of the nursing profession. Both undergraduate and graduate students who meet the following criteria may be inducted:
It pays to be a Saint! We offer a 20% ALUMNI DISCOUNT to qualified alums on master’s, doctoral and post-master’s certificate programs.
The Leach College of Nursing and USF Graduate Admissions is proud to partner with numerous organizations to provide tuition discounts to their employees. Please look here for a full list of our current partners. If you see your organization listed, speak to an advisor and complete the Employee Discount Form.
Several scholarships and grants are available to help offset tuition costs for students in the College of Nursing. If you qualify for one of the below opportunities and want more information about applying, contact finaid@stfrancis.edu.
Jennifer K. Bily Scholarship
This scholarship is sponsored by Anthony & Kathy Bily. Anthony and Kathy Bily established the scholarship in the memory of their daughter, Jennifer, a nursing student who died in an automobile accident in 1995.
Annalise Hathaway Endowed Scholarship
Annalise Hathaway graduated from the Leach College of Nursing in 2012. Annalise brightened everyone’s day with her friendly, compassionate and professional demeanor, but sadly, she this world much too quickly. Annalise’s true passion was nursing, so in memory of Annalise and with a desire to support students at the University of St. Francis who serve and lead in the nursing profession, the Hathaway family has endowed a yearly scholarship.
Leach College of Nursing Scholarship
Scholarship sponsored by John & Cecily Leach. All nursing students (BSN, BSN Completion, and MSN) are encouraged to apply. Amount varies.
Dr. Patricia Shelvy Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Scholarship
The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Scholarship was established by Dr. Patricia Shelvy, who recognizes the need for an online psychiatric nurse practitioner program. The scholarship is expendable and will be awarded based on the following criteria:
CVS Health Foundation Family Nurse Practitioner Student Scholarship Program
This grant is to be used to support students as they complete their academic program.
Will County Heroes Teaching & Nursing Scholarship
Will County has awarded University of St. Francis funds to generate a pathway for enrollment, education and employment for its residents. Potential nursing students are eligible to apply for up to $5,000 per academic year of scholarship money towards their education as an incentive to stay and work in Will County. Scholarship funding will be available through Fall 2026 or until funding is expended.
Meet the LCON Dean & Faculty
Education
B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. – Indiana State University
Bio
Dr. Yeijin Yeom, Ph.D., RN, CNE has been the dean of the Leach College of Nursing for several years. She believes in providing a rigorous education that results in top nurses who provide the ultimate in patient care for those in need.
Dean of the Leach College of Nursing
yyeom@stfrancis.edu
Education
Bio
Amanda Amiti, DNP, MSN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC is a dually-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). She is the director of Nurse Practitioner programs at USF in addition to teaching full-time. She graduated from USF in 2020 with a post-master’s PMHNP certificate and in 2025 with a DNP. She has been a faculty member since January 2023 and has enjoyed sparking her passion for mental health in her students’ hearts.
Dr. Amiti is married with three children. She also practice as a PMHNP in Utica, Illinois. She enjoys spending time with her family, shopping and trying out restaurants in the community.
Director of FNP & PMHNP Programs and Instructor aamiti@stfrancis.edu
Education
Coming Soon
Bio
Kimberly Gibson, MSN, RN’s nursing background is in cardiology. Prior to joining USF in the fall of 2019 as clinical coordinator, she worked in a very busy cardiology office in various aspects. She started out in medical records and then became a physician’s receptionist before becoming a nurse. Kimberly has interacted with patients at many different levels, but feels she made her biggest impact while working in the cardiac device clinical. Working with the electrophysiologists and learning how to program pacemakers and defibrillators was a great experience—one that she is extremely grateful for.
Kimberly is married with no children. She and her husband enjoy traveling, four wheeling, building race cars and drag racing.
kgibson@stfrancis.edu 
Education
Coming Soon
Bio
Caitlin McCarthy, MSN, FNP-BC is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with primary experience in the immediate care setting. She has worked as a registered nurse in pediatric CICU, neurology step down, telemetry, hematology-oncology, and medical surgical. She is trained in PICC, midline, and ultrasound IV placement and is certified to perform DOT physicals.
Instructor
Education
Bio
Sara A. Mulka, MSN, RN is a proud University of St. Francis alumna. She serves as a full-time instructor in the undergraduate nursing program, where she teaches classroom, lab, and simulation-based courses. Sara graduated from USF in 2003 with a BSN and is currently pursuing her DNP. She brings over 20 years of experience in neonatal intensive care nursing and a passion for innovative, student-centered teaching to her role.
Sara is married and the mother of two children. Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family, exploring local parks and restaurants, and sharing her love for lifelong learning with her children.
smulka@stfrancis.edu 
Education
Bio
Courtney Pritchard, DNP, MSN, RN, CCRN graduated with her BSN from Bradley University in 2006 and started her nursing career working in the trauma/neurological/surgical intensive care unit focusing on the adult population. Critical care is my passion and I continued to advance my nursing career by becoming CCRN certified and obtaining my MSN degree with a concentration in nursing education. I have been in nursing education since 2015 and love working for the University of St. Francis. I enjoy teaching the senior level nursing students and seeing them develop from a nursing student into a nursing professional. I currently teach advanced medical-surgical nursing and simulation during the students last semester. I reside in New Lenox, IL with my husband and two children.
cpritchard@stfrancis.edu 
Education
Coming Soon
Bio
Megan Vasecka, MSN, RN is a proud double alumna of the University of St. Francis, earning her BSN in 2005 and her MSN in 2016. Her clinical background includes emergency nursing, medical-surgical care, telemetry, and IV therapy, giving her a strong foundation in both acute and chronic care settings. She is passionate about preparing the next generation of nurses to deliver evidence-based, compassionate care while building critical thinking and clinical judgment skills in the classroom and simulation lab.
mvasecka@stfrancis.edu 
Education
Bio
Sunya Watson, DNP, MSN, MBA, RN, CNE has been a Registered Nurse for 26 years. I have worked in various fields of nursing, including Medical-Surgical, Telemetry, and the Intensive Care Unit. I have experience working as a Vascular Access nurse and Nursing Supervisor in a hospital.
As a certified nurse educator, I enjoy empowering nurses to be the best leaders they can be by encouraging strong communication skills and providing constructive feedback that supports our students’ growth.
I am married with one son. I enjoy exercising, volunteering, and traveling.
swatson@stfrancis.edu Meet the LCON Staff
Geri Brent enjoys serving the Leach College of Nursing as office manager and administrative assistant to the dean.
gbrent@stfrancis.edu 
Jocelyn Lupercio serves as the project coordinator for the ANEW grant.
jlupercio@stfrancis.edu 
Jennilyn enjoys working in the Leach College of Nursing as a specialist for graduate nursing programs.
jruhaak@stfrancis.edu La Enfermería es una de las carreras más flexibles y satisfactorias que se pueden elegir. La USF ha formado a tres generaciones de enfermeras atentas y altamente cualificadas. En la USF, recibirá una de las mejores educaciones en Enfermería disponibles, preparándola para ser una profesional clínica competente y una defensora de sus pacientes.
Enfermería (B.A.)
Programa puente R.N.-BSN con Joliet Junior College y Moraine Valley Community College
Enfermería (MSN)
– Enfermera de familia
– Administración de Enfermería
– Educación en Enfermería
– Enfermera especializada en salud mental y psiquiátrica
Certificado de Docencia en Enfermería
Enfermera de familia
Enfermera especializada en salud mental y psiquiátrica
El programa de licenciatura en enfermería, el programa de Maestría en Enfermería, el programa de Doctorado en Práctica de Enfermería y los programas de certificado APRN de postgrado de la Universidad de St. Francis, están acreditados por la:
Comisión de Formación Colegial en Enfermería
655 K Street NW
Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: 202-887-6791
PROGRAMAS DE LICENCIATURA
National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)
PROGRAMAS DE POSTGRADO
Certificación del American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Certificación de la American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
La Universidad de St. El Capítulo Francis Upsilon Delta de Sigma Theta Tau International reconoce los logros superiores y las cualidades de liderazgo, fomenta un alto nivel profesional y fomenta el trabajo creativo. La sociedad de honor también trabaja para fortalecer el compromiso con los ideales y propósitos de la profesión de enfermería. Pueden ser admitidos tanto los alumnos de licenciatura como los de postgrado que cumplan los siguientes criterios:
BECAS
Beca de Enseñanza y Enfermería HEROES del condado de Will
El condado de Will ha concedido a la Universidad de St. Francis fondos para generar una vía de matriculación, educación y empleo para sus residentes. Los posibles alumnos de enfermería pueden solicitar una beca de hasta 2,500 dólares por semestre o 5,000 dólares por año académico para su educación como incentivo para quedarse y trabajar en el condado de Will. Las becas estarán disponibles hasta el otoño de 2026 o hasta que se agoten los fondos.
logotipo de la facultad de enfermería Leach
Beca patrocinada por John y Cecily Leach. Se anima a todos los alumnos de Enfermería (BSN, BSN Completion y MSN) a presentar su solicitud. El importe varía.
Jennifer K. Beca Bily
Beca patrocinada por Anthony y Kathy Bily. Anthony y Kathy Bily crearon la beca en memoria de su hija Jennifer, alumna de Enfermería que falleció en un accidente de automóvil en 1995.
Beca de dotación Annalise Hathaway
Annalise Hathaway se graduó en la Facultad de Enfermería Leach en 2012. Por desgracia, dejó este mundo demasiado pronto. La verdadera pasión de Annalise era la enfermería. Con su trato amable, profesional y compasivo, Annalise alegró el día a todo el mundo.
En memoria de Annalise y con el deseo de apoyar a los alumnos de la Universidad de St. Francis que sirven y lideran en la profesión de enfermería, la familia Hathaway ha dotado una beca anual.
Dr. Beca Patricia Shelvy de Enfermería psiquiátrica
La beca para enfermeros psiquiátricos fue creada por la Dra. Patricia Shelvy. Dr. Shelvy reconoce la necesidad de un programa online de enfermería psiquiátrica. La beca es prescindible y se concederá en función de los siguientes criterios.
Programa de Becas para Alumnos de Family Nurse Practitioner de la Fundación CVS Health
La subvención se utilizará para ayudar a los alumnos a completar su programa académico.
SUBVENCIONES
Subvención para la Fuerza Laboral de Educación Avanzada en Enfermería (ANEW)
El programa ANEW ha sido seleccionado para recibir financiación de la Administración de Recursos y Servicios Sanitarios (HRSA). La ayuda al becario será de 11,000 dólares, un estipendio de dos plazos (semestres de curso clínico) de 5,500 dólares. La financiación formará a alumnos de APRN para que ejerzan en comunidades rurales y desatendidas o en departamentos de salud estatales y locales de Illinois. La Universidad de St. La Facultad de Enfermería Leach de Francis recibió una subvención de casi 1.5 millones de dólares.
Subvención del Programa de préstamos para profesores de enfermería (NFLP)
Una vez que el alumno se compromete a ello, el programa de becas NFLP autoriza la cancelación de hasta el 85% de su préstamo original más los intereses. Las condiciones estipulan que el alumno recibirá un préstamo de 12,490 dólares cada año una vez cumplimentado el pagaré y el formulario de Derechos y responsabilidades del prestatario. Esta cantidad se destinará a la matrícula, los libros, las tarifas y cualquier otro gasto educativo del alumno. Una vez cumplido el compromiso, se condona hasta el 85% del préstamo.
Para poder optar a la subvención NFLP, el solicitante debe:
La Facultad de Enfermería Leach y USF Graduate Admissions se enorgullecen de asociarse con numerosas organizaciones para ofrecer descuentos en la matrícula a sus empleados. Mire aquí para ver un alista completa de nuestros socios actuales.Si ve su organización en la lista, hable con un asesor y rellene el formulario de descuento para empleados.
Conozca al profesorado de la Facultad de Enfermería Leach