School of Nursing Profile

History and Purpose
The University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston, established in 1890 as part of the John Sealy Hospital Training School for Nurses in Galveston, is one of the oldest schools of nursing in the southwestern United States. The baccalaureate nursing program of the UT System expanded to Houston in 1972, when nursing courses were offered in Houston and other Texas locations. The UT School of Nursing was organized in 1972 and began offering the master of nursing degree in the same year. In 1976, the system structure dissolved and the School of Nursing at Houston was reorganized under the control of the health science center. In 1995, the School initiated the Doctor of Science in Nursing degree program.

Instructional Programs
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The School of Nursing offers an undergraduate program leading to the degree of bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). The undergraduate program is designed for students who wish to enter the profession of nursing and for nurses who have earned an associate degree or diploma in nursing and desire to obtain the baccalaureate degree. A “Baccalaureate Plus” option for students with a baccalaureate degree or higher is also available.

Master of Science in Nursing
The master’s program is designed for nurses who have the baccalaureate degree in nursing and wish to prepare for advanced practice in a specialized area with role preparation as clinical specialists, educators, administrators, or nurse practitioners. In collaboration with UT M D Anderson Cancer Center, a masters program with a focus on clinical research management is also available.

Program options available in the master of science in nursing (MSN) degree program are:

• Acute/Critical Care
• Emergency Care
• Family Health
• Gerontology
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Anesthesia locally and to US Army nurses by contract
• Oncology
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric/Mental Health
• Women’s Health Care

The adult practitioner option is offered in conjunction with gerontology, oncology, psychiatric/mental health and women’s health care (nurse practitioner) tracks.

There is a cooperative degree option of MSN/MPH, which is offered jointly by the School of Nursing and School of Public Health. Through the US Army contract, education is provided at Fort Sam Houston, with clinical training at various military facilities including Walter Reed and Tripler Hospitals.

Doctor of Science in Nursing
In 1995, the school was approved to implement a doctor of science in nursing (DSN) degree program, the only clinical nursing doctoral program in Texas. The program is designed to prepare students for advanced practice nursing graduate programs; train nurse scientists who will conduct research focused on health care interventions and outcomes; and develop senior clinicians who will implement and evaluate innovative practice models in health care delivery systems.

Facilities and Affiliations
Clinical learning experience is available within other UT com-ponents in the Texas Medical Center and in the broader community. Affiliate institutions include: The Methodist Hospital, the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, St. Luke’s Epis-copal Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, The Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, UT Harris County Psychiatric Center and other health care facilities. Students also have opportunities for learning experiences in neighborhood health centers, nursing homes, day care centers, city and county health departments, mental health facilities and physicians’ offices and clinics. A unique opportunity for clinical training exists in the nurse-managed clinic, UT Health Services, established in 1991.

Organizaition Chart