When it comes to graduate nursing programs, the University of Illinois (UIC) Chicago - College of Nursing in Peoria sets the pace for others in the nation. Not only the very first College of Nursing to offer a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program in downstateIllinois, the UIC College of Nursing also offers the only joint degree — Master’s in Nursing and Master’s in Public Health in Illinois (MS-MPH). Created for those seeking an advanced nursing degree, the DNP Program is the final practice degree for the nursing profession and is expected to produce leaders who will affect the future of our nation’s healthcare and nursing. The College of Nursing is accepting applications for the next DNP Program until February 1st.     One of the Nation’s Leading Institutions“What many people don’t realize is that Peoria’s nursing programs are often among the first of their kind,” Kathleen Baldwin, PhD, RN, Associate Professor (Public Health Nursing) said. “We’ve worked to address our nation’s nursing shortage by providing the greatest range of master’s programs for nurses in the region. We also believe this program will create more of our nation’s nursing educators and leaders.” Unlike other nursing programs in the area, the UIC College of Nursing offers graduate programs in all areas of nursing, with the exception of anesthesiology. “Peoria has been gifted with a premier nursing college that is consistently ranked among the top 10 for teaching institutions and among the top five for research,” Baldwin said. “In addition to receiving the nation’s first federal grant funding for our DNP program, we have also been advocates

for public health (or community health) nursing for years.” The DNP program is partially supported by funds from the Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services. Read more