Nursing Department
College of Arts and Humanities
Faculty
Sarah Urban, PhD, RN, CNE - Chair
Andrea Anderson, MSN, RN
Karen Black-Vetter, DNP, MSNED, RN
Nicole Buhler, MSN, RN
Kimberly Devine, MSN, RNC-MNN
Kimberly McCullough, DNP, MSN, RN
Brittany Petrelli, MSNED, RN
Caryn Ruzic, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
The Rockford University Nursing department is approved by the State of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and is accredited by:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
404.975.5000
www.acenursing.org
Mission
The Department of Nursing as an integral part of Rockford University, holds a mission that is consistent with the mission and beliefs of the University. The mission of the Rockford University baccalaureate nursing program is to prepare registered professional nurses to provide quality nursing care to individuals, families, groups, and communities, within a global society. The graduate will attain the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for professional nursing practice by integrating liberal education and professional nursing education.
The Student Learning Outcomes of the University’s Nursing program are to prepare graduates to:
- Synthesize knowledge and skills from nursing and a liberal arts education that includes both the sciences and the arts into professional nursing practice.
- Prepare graduates to practice as baccalaureate generalist nurses to serve as providers of care and be contributing members of the nursing profession to meet the diverse health care needs of a global society.
- Facilitate the internalization of the values of the discipline of nursing that include altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity and social justice.
- Prepare graduates to be lifelong learners who serve as designers, managers and coordinators of care, and who are members of the profession.
The department offers a four-year track for students interested in becoming registered nurses which leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The strong community-based clinical component of the program provides opportunities for the student to apply knowledge and skills in clinical settings. Successful completion of the degree qualifies students to apply for the professional nurse licensure examination.
The liberal arts education of Rockford University fosters a holistic view of persons, facilitates critical thinking and decision-making, provides opportunities for exchanging ideas, stimulates intellectual growth and creativity, and encourages contributions to the nursing profession and society. The integration of professional and liberal arts education at Rockford University ensures that students gain an appreciation for diversity, develop confidence in their own abilities, and apply their talents within a practice discipline.