Baltimore, Md. — The University of Maryland School of Nursing's (UMSON) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is ranked No. 5 in the U.S. News & World Report’s inaugural DNP rankings. Additionally, UMSON is ranked No. 8 among all accredited graduate nursing programs, tied for No. 8 with the schools of nursing at Case Western Reserve University, Columbia University, and Emory University in U.S. News & World Report's 2017 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.”
UMSON’s DNP program is tied with Case Western and with Rush University for the No. 5 ranking. This category appears for the first time in the publication's categories.
Three UMSON master’s specialties/options are ranked in the top five in the 2017 listing. The Clinical Nurse Leader option and Nursing Informatics specialty remain at No. 1, and the Administration specialty, at No. 5.
Other UMSON specialties ranked in the top 10 include the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Family Nurse Practitioner specialties, which are each ranked at No. 8; the Nurse Anesthesia specialty is at No. 10.
“It is gratifying to continue to be recognized within the top 10 nursing programs nationwide and a particular honor to debut at the No. 5 ranking for our Doctor of Nursing Practice program in the first year for this ranking. These accomplishments are a testament to the extraordinary hard-work and dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni,” said Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “At a time when the nation’s nursing schools are being called upon to increase the number of nurses holding advanced degrees, we pride ourselves on being in the forefront of nursing education, research, and practice to ensure that nurses are well-prepared to meet the diverse needs of our society within a complex and rapidly changing health care environment.”
The U.S. News & World Report “America’s Best Graduate Schools” rankings for nursing are compiled through the gathering of survey data from deans from schools of nursing that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. It is ranked eighth in the nation for master’s programs and fifth for Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.