Immaculata University Marks 40 Years of Nursing Education

Immaculata University recently celebrated its nursing programs, welcoming nursing students, alumni, current and former faculty, and members of the University community.

Craig Fuller, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions, greets current nursing students Faith Walmsley and Nicole McGhee.

Nursing at Immaculata began in 1985 with a single RN-to-B.S.N. degree and has since grown into the College of Nursing and Health Professions, offering multiple undergraduate and graduate degrees. Over the past four decades, Immaculata has awarded more than 4,800 bachelor’s degrees in nursing and nearly 350 master’s degrees.

The 40th anniversary celebration “was a great evening of fun. networking and reflecting on the impact that Immaculata’s nursing programs have on the region’s health care workforce,” stated Pamela Hudson ’89, DBA, RN, interim chair of the Division of Nursing. “The energy in the room was unmistakable, a powerful reflection of the vibrant and influential presence of nursing at Immaculata University.”

The celebration came at a time when hospitals and clinics nationwide are facing critical shortages of registered nurses and advanced practice providers. Institutions like Immaculata are stepping up to meet this challenge, preparing graduates to lead in patient care, education and health policy.

Former classmates, Molly Byrne ’14 and Beatriz Cordova-Pedroza ’14, reconnect to celebrate the 40th anniversary of IU’s nursing program.

To help meet workforce needs, Immaculata launched a family nurse practitioner specialization in 2023 and plans to add a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner track in 2026.

As Immaculata’s nursing program enters its fifth decade, the faculty and staff are committed to continual success and dedication to their nursing students. What’s more, Immaculata’s graduates are in high demand, with more than 92% of nursing graduates in the Class of 2024 employed within six months of graduation.