Tag: LCON

USF News

Fortune Names USF’s Online Master of Science in Nursing Program the Best in Illinois

Joliet, Ill. – As the University of St. Francis (USF) prepares to open the fall 2022 semester later this month, it will do so with the top-ranked online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program in Illinois according to Fortune’s inaugural Best Online Master’s in Nursing (MSN) Programs in 2022. In fact, USF’s MSN program (#29 overall) was one of only two Illinois programs included in Fortune’s 2022 rankings.

“Graduates from USF’s program incorporate their education and research into a practice that is reflective of the dynamic needs of a diverse population. Through that advanced role, they are instrumental in ensuring health promotion, health maintenance, and health restoration in their community of practice. Through scientific inquiry and collaborative relationships, the advanced practice nurse continually augments and refines the science of nursing,” said USF Leach College of Nursing dean, Yeijin Yeom, Ph.D., RN, CNE.

“Online master’s degree programs in nursing provide nurses a path into an APRN career by enabling them to remotely earn their degree from top-ranked programs. These online programs offer more flexibility than an in-person master’s degree program in nursing, but still deliver the guidance and curriculum required for licensure. The online path is a critical part of meeting the stark demand for advanced practice registered nurses in the coming years, which is why Fortune is launching its inaugural ranking of online master’s in nursing (MSN) programs,” said Meghan Malas of Fortune Education.

Fortune’s online MSN program rankings were based on three criteria: Selectivity Score (55% comprised of the average undergraduate GPA of incoming students, and a weighted program acceptance rate), Success Score (40% comprised of one-year retention and graduation rates), and Demand Score (5% comprised of the program’s most recent graduating class). Click here to view Fortune’s inaugural Best Online Master’s in Nursing (MSN) Programs in 2022 rankings.

Other Recent Top Accolades for USF

USF’s MSN program earning top accolades in Illinois by Fortune adds to a growing list of top State honors by Joliet’s university. In the past 12 months, USF also earned recognition for having the best online MBA program in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report, as well as the safest college campus in Illinois according to WalletHub. To learn more about state and national recognition earned by USF and its programs, click here.

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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 53,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

USF, Kodo Pharmacy partner to help vaccinate the community

Joliet, Ill. – The Franciscan values of service, compassion, integrity and respect are lived through word and action each day at the University of St. Francis, as well as in the community through USF students and employees. In response to the need created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, these values were recently demonstrated in the community by USF Leach College of Nursing (LCON) students and staff as they partnered with Kodo Pharmacy in Joliet to administer vaccine doses to those in need in the community.

“As most of us aware, the task of administering the COVID-19 vaccine to the community is monumental. The LCON staff reached out to the USF Wellness Center and the idea of making contact with Kodo Pharmacy in Joliet was addressed. Talking with Chad Kodiak, owner of and pharmacist at Kodo Pharmacy, the idea was presented that the pharmacy could secure the vaccine through ICares and the Will County Health Department, and that nursing students could assist in vaccine administration,” said Phyllis Peterson, USF Wellness Center Coordinator.

After receiving their own vaccine for protection as well as being in the 1A allocation of the vaccine, a USF team of employees and student nurses worked with Kodo Pharmacy to administer the vaccine to residents at the Joshua Arms Senior High Rise and Trinity Services, along with clients of Cornerstone Services and the Will County Health Department clinic. In three days, the USF student nurses administered over 1660 vaccines. The students also provided COVID-19 testing for approximately 200 Will County residents.

Kodiak stressed his appreciation for the assistance from USF.

“We are so thankful for USF and its nursing students. They have been unbelievable and completely professional. It is no exaggeration to say the COVID vaccines that have been administered in Will County would not have been possible without the help of the USF nursing students. We continue to receive compliments about how professional they are, how skilled they are, and how wonderful they are at doing their job,” he said.

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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 51,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

USF Students Earn CVS Health Foundation Scholarships

Joliet, Ill. – Three students pursuing a family nurse practitioner (FNP) degree at the University of St. Francis (USF) have recently been named recipients of the CVS Health Foundation Scholarship. Each of the students – Chao Moua, Eva Cybulski, and Renalda Tomic – were awarded a $1,000 scholarship that has been credited toward their student accounts. 

USF’s Leach College of Nursing administered the application and selection process at the university level. Applicants are required to be students in good standing in the FNP program. Additional consideration was given to students who are military veterans, as well as those who are bilingual or a member of a minority or underserved population.

“We are appreciative of the financial support offered to our students through the CVS Health Foundation FNP/PA Scholarship Program. The investment that this support makes locally continues to be paid forward as our graduates continue to serve our communities,” said USF Leach College of Nursing dean Ebere Ume, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., PHN.

About the CVS Health Foundation FNP/PA Scholarship Program

The CVS Health Foundation FNP/PA Scholarship Program is our contribution to supporting family nurse practitioners and physician assistants of tomorrow as they complete their education. Through this scholarship program, the CVS Health Foundation FNP/PA Scholarship Program is proud to support its affiliated academic partners through funding that allows them to offer scholarships to their eligible FNP/PA students.

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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 51,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

Dr. Susan Hibben Named Associate Dean for LCON

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis’ Leach College of Nursing recently announced that Susan A. Hibben, Ph.D., MSN, RN, CNE, has been named its new Associate Dean of Graduate Programs. Hibben, who will serve a dual role as she also continues on as the Program Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), began her new duties at USF on June 1, 2020. 

Hibben succeeds Susan Thompson, DNP, ACNS-BC, who will continue her faculty role in USF’s Leach College of Nursing.

“We look forward to the continued growth and enhancement of our graduate programs under the leadership of Dr. Susan Hibben. The USF Community congratulates Susan on her new role,” said Ebere Ume, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., PHN Dean of the Leach College of Nursing.

Hibben, who has been a faculty member with USF since 2012, is looking forward to continuing her efforts toward helping nursing students prepare for their careers.

“I plan to continue helping, serving and supporting students and colleagues achieve their professional goals and dreams.  Together with the college team, we will also navigate through this pandemic period toward a strong recovery period of growth and return to a new, yet perhaps different, normal,” Hibben said.

Hibben has a Ph.D. in education from Northcentral University along with her MSN in nursing administration from the University of Phoenix. 

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Currently celebrating 100 years of higher education rooted in Franciscan values, the University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 50,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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Saint Spotlights

Alumni Spotlight: Leticia Garcia ’13

Alumni Spotlight: Leticia Garcia ’13

female nurse with full protective gearThe outstanding LCON alumna is using her USF education in the fight against COVID-19.

We are thankful for nursing alumna Leticia Garcia, BSN ’13 and the work she is doing in the fight against COVID-19. Here’s what she has to say:

I graduated from USF in May 2013. I work in Labor and Delivery at Silver Cross Hospital, my dream job since I delivered my daughter at Silver Cross 11 years ago.

Due to the COVID-19 situation, patients are only allowed to have one visitor on our unit. As their nurse I have to take the place of their mom, their sister, or their best friend. It’s sad that during such a special moment grandparents and siblings can’t come visit. Our waiting rooms are empty. Everything keeps changing day by day.

female nurse standing in hospital hallwayIt’s hard to take it all in, but as a nurse you have to stay strong for your patients and reassure them everything will be ok and “normal” soon, even though you yourself have no idea what’s to come.

Patients and their one visitor are to wear face masks at all times. Imagine that, delivering a baby when it’s already difficult to breath and now with a mask over your face. Nurses, OBs and staff have to wear an N-95 mask, a second mask over it, and a face shield during all deliveries—how impersonal! I just hope I can make my patients’ experiences the safest and most memorable with these circumstances. They are the reason why I became an OB nurse.

USF News

Leach College of Nursing Re-accreditation Review

October 31, 2019

Dear Nursing Students, Faculty and the University of St. Francis Community,

The Leach College of Nursing will be hosting a reaccreditation review visit by The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) on April 6-8, 2020. The Self-study documents will be submitted to CCNE no later than Monday, February 24, 2020.

The following degrees/programs will be evaluated for re-accreditation during this visit:

  • BSN – Prelicensure and RN-BSN Completion
  • MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, MSN – Nursing Education, and MSN -Nursing Administration; and
  • PMC – PMC – Family Nurse Practitioner, PMC-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice

CCNE will accept written third-party comments until 21 days before the scheduled on-site evaluation in April. All written third-party comments must be received by CCNE by Monday, March 16, 2020. If you wish to send any written comments directly to CCNE prior to the site visit, please send your comments to:

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Attn: Third-Party Comments
655 K Street NW
Suite 750
Washington DC 20001

– or –

thirdpartycomments@ccneaccreditation.org

Please note that CCNE shares third-party comments with the evaluation team prior to the on-site evaluation, but at no time during the review process are these comments shared with the program, the Accreditation Review Committee, or the Board. During its review of the program, the evaluation team considers third-party comments, if any, that relate to the accreditation standards.

If you have any questions about the upcoming accreditation visit, please contact me and join our weekly faculty CCNE preparation meetings.

Blessings,

Ebere Ume, PhD, MSN, RN, PHN
Dean, Leach College of Nursing