About the School of Nursing
History of the School of Nursing
In 1968 William Carey University merged with the Mather School of Nursing in New Orleans, Louisiana. This well-known New Orleans institution had operated for many years at Southern Baptist Hospital. The School of Nursing was first approved by the Board of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning in March 1969 to offer classes for the RN to BSN program with classes being taught in Hattiesburg and New Orleans.
The National League for Nursing (NLN) granted initial accreditation in 1971. The entire major was offered to registered nurses in Gulfport and Hattiesburg beginning in 1976. In the fall of 1992, a self study was presented to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing for the purpose of scheduling a site visit and gaining official approval to operate in that State. Conditional approval was granted in February 1993. At the time of the last NLN visit (1999), both an RN to BSN program and a generic program were available on all three campuses – Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Gulfport, Mississippi; and New Orleans, Louisiana. This practice has continued.
The School of Nursing continues to operate in two states, with the Mississippi Campuses being fully accredited by the Institutions of Higher Learning and the Louisiana Campus being fully approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.
In 2003, approval was granted to offer the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. In the fall of that year, the first MSN class was admitted with a clinical focus in adult health and role focus in nursing education. Twenty students completed the program of study and graduated in August 2004. The MSN program received full accreditation by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning in 2004.
Currently, all nursing programs are strong and growing. The RN-BSN program is now offered in an web-enhanced format and can be completed within 12 months. The MSN program can also be completed in 12 months. Classes for both of these programs are offered web-enhanced on an every-other-weekend rotation to accommodate practicing nurses as they pursue higher education.
Mission
On behalf of the William Carey University administration, the nursing faculty, staff, and students on all three campuses, we are glad you have chosen to look closely at the Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing at William Carey University.
As an integral part of William Carey University, the School of Nursing shares the overall purpose and objectives of the University.
At the undergraduate level, we seek to prepare individuals for self-directed practice and continuing growth in professional nursing; for formal graduate study; and for service to people as an expression of the Christian life and commitment.
In the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, we seek to build on and advance the knowledge acquired at the undergraduate level to produce an expert in the areas of adult health and nursing education.
As a School of Nursing, our commitment is to promote the health of all individuals by preparing competent and caring individuals for nursing service.
Let us know how we can be of service to you.