Fairfield University's School of Nursing among the ranks of the best graduate schools, says U.S. News & World Report | Press Releases

Image: School of Nursing student Fairfield University's School of Nursing is one of the best graduate schools in the country, according to the U.S. News & World Report .

The Jesuit school is included in the new book "Best Graduate Schools, 2012 Edition," published by U.S. News & World Report, hitting newsstands on April 5, 2011. The School of Nursing ranked number 99 overall on a list of 442 nursing schools, making it among the top 25 percent of schools listed. It's tied with numerous schools such as Northeastern University and Gonzaga University that have clinical partnerships with top medical centers and teaching hospitals like Fairfield does.

The publishing of the book comes as the need for nurses continues to increase, while technological advances have empowered nurses to take a leading role in patient care. Meanwhile, the new national healthcare law places advanced practice nurses among the leaders in healthcare delivery.

"Based on federal government forecasts, the demand for jobs in the healthcare industry is expected to grow in the coming decade," said Brian Kelly, editor of U.S. News & World Report . "The new and updated Best Nursing Schools rankings guide will serve as an essential resource for anyone considering professional development in this arena."

Master's degree programs in nursing were assessed based on a peer survey of deans, other administrators, and/or faculty at accredited degree programs or schools. The surveys were conducted in fall of 2010, with only fully accredited programs in good standing during the survey period ranked.

The news was well received at Fairfield's School of Nursing, which has added three doctoral tracks in the past two years. The doctoral program in nurse anesthesia (DNP-NAP), offered in conjunction with Bridgeport Hospital and Bridgeport Anesthesia Associates, is for entry right into practice. It joins two other DNP programs at Fairfield: the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner tracks.

"This is especially gratifying because we have considerably increased our graduate program offerings," said Jeanne Novotny, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing. "At the same time, the school now has affiliations with more than 50 agencies so a student has opportunities to learn in a variety of clinical settings."

The school has partnerships with myriad healthcare facilities including Yale New Haven Medical Center, Greenwich Hospital, Stamford Hospital, Danbury Hospital, St. Vincent's Medical Center, and VA Connecticut Healthcare System.

For more information about Fairfield's School of Nursing, visit www.fairfield.edu/dnp .

Pictured is Andrea Robinson, a Fairfield University School of Nursing student at the School's Robin Kanarek '96 Learning Resource Center. U.S. News & World Report named the School's graduate programs among the best.