School of Nursing

UConn's School of Nursing has been preparing individuals for professional nursing practice since 1942.

The School is the 11th chapter of Sigma Theta Tau (the International Honor Society for Nursing), leaders in scholarship, education, policymaking and service.

School of Nursing

UConn’s School of Nursing is one of the premier programs offered at any public university in New England, and hands-on clinical experience is a vital part of our success.

During your course of study you will:

Encounter many real-world experiences in varied settings.
Participate in clinical teams at major Connecticut teaching hospitals.
Receive the diversified experiences that will help shape you as a healthcare professional.

The School offers:

2 pre-licensure programs; 1 for the traditional undergraduate and 1 for those who already possess a bachelor's degree in another field and are interested in a nursing career.
A master’s program.
A new post-master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.).

Internationally, a major shortage of personnel currently exists within the nursing profession, particularly for those educated with baccalaureate degrees or higher. The situation in Connecticut is no exception. It is expected that by 2010 the state of Connecticut will have 11,000 too few nurses and could be 20,000 nurses short in less than 10 years.

This, however, provides an ideal opportunity as you consider nursing as a career.

UConn offers you challenge, opportunity, research experiences and clinical practice at a world-class institution that prepares you for a professional nursing career.

Take advantage of our outstanding facilities:

A simulated laboratory keeps you up-to-date with the latest technology, helping you transfer theory into practice.
Our dedicated Center for Nursing Scholarship provides support for ongoing scientific investigations that are a strong component of the School’s educational programs and nursing profession.

Our research influences every aspect of healthcare, from patient outcomes to communication with health providers – and you will benefit from consistent involvement in this innovative research.

Available Majors

Nursing B.S.

Nursing M.S.

Post-Master's Certificate

Adult Acute Care
Adult Primary Care
Community Health
Neonatal Acute Care
Patient Care Services and Systems Administration
Psychiatric Mental Health

Master's Entry into Nursing (MbEIN)

R.N. to Master’s (R.N. to M.S.)

Teaching Nursing Certificate Program

Ph.D. in Nursing

Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)

Distinguished Faculty

Nursing Faculty - 01

Arthur J. Engler, associate professor, studies how families and staff care for children in intensive care units, psychological and biological effects of kangaroo care (a therapy for preterm infants) on parents, and grief and bereavement in the NICU. He also leads nursing students in a study abroad program to Cape Town, South Africa.

Nursing Faculty - 02

Nnenna Ohalete, assistant professor, is an expert in psychiatric nursing and family practice. Her research on reproductive health communication has largely focused on the African American populations, but she plans to extend her investigation to college-age students’ sexual communication and behavior.

Nursing Faculty - 03

E. Carol Polifroni, associate dean for academic affairs and special initiatives, has taught more than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students, preparing them for careers in the healthcare field. Her research focus is on inter-professional education and exploring end of life transitions.

Nursing Faculty - 04

Desiree Diaz, clinical instructor and clinical resource lab coordinator, supervises all simulation activity within the School of Nursing. Founder of and advisor to the Moulage Acting Simulation Creativity Club, she has initiated several programs including Scout Days, where various scout troops are exposed to the nursing profession.

Nursing Faculty - 05

Cheryl Beck, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor, is a leading expert in postpartum depression, about which she writes prolifically in refereed journals. Among the most widely cited of her 100-plus publications are those that explicate the experiences, predictors and consequences of postpartum depression.

Successful Alumni

Nursing Alumni - 01

Tanya Paul (’07, B.S.) is a Registered Nurse at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She is responsible for managing the care of critically ill newborn infants who require moderate to complex assessments, interventions and nursing vigilance.

Nursing Alumni - 02

Megan M. Smith (’07, B.S.) is a Registered Nurse in critical care at the University of Colorado Hospital where she is on a committee to attain accreditation for her hospital’s new Graduate Residency program. As part of her residency, she is conducting research on End of Life Care in the ICU.

Nursing Alumni - 03

Alissa Broadbent (’07, B.S.) works as a Registered Nurse in Labor and Delivery at Yale-New Haven Hospital, where she delivers babies and offers comfort to her patients and their families.

Nursing Alumni - 04

Bereshith Adams (’07, B.S.) works as a Registered Nurse at Hartford Hospital on a Trauma/Neurology/Ear, Nose and Throat unit where he cares for the traumatic brain injured, stroke, multi-trauma, diabetic and seizure patients. During his undergraduate studies, he enrolled in 3 clinical science internships to further his patient care skills.

Nursing Alumni - 05

Kenya Wilson (’07, B.S.) is a Registered Nurse at St. Vincent's Catholic Medical Center in New York City where she cares for sick children and provides support to the families of patients in the Pediatric/Cystic Fibrosis unit. She plans to work on a more specialized/advanced pediatric unit or a pediatric hospital in New York City.

Nursing Alumni - 06

Megan Elizabeth McNally (’07, B.S.) is a Registered Nurse at the UConn Health Center where she provides care to crucially ill patients. She honed her confidence and nursing skills while interning over semester breaks and was nominated for Yale-New Haven Hospital’s New Grad of the Year Award.