A Message from Dean Jeanne M. Novotny, Ph.D., FAAN

Image: Dr. Jeanne M. NovotnyThe field of nursing has changed immeasurably since Florence Nightingale's leadership turned caring for the wounded and sick into a profession. Likewise, the education of nurses has changed dramatically. Students are entering the School of Nursing at a point in time when we are focusing on preparing students for a rapidly changing world of health care. Our goal is to establish a caring, diverse academic learning environment that provides one of the world's highest standards of nursing education.

The Fairfield University School of Nursing curriculum prepares future nurses at the baccalaureate and master's level in an exciting environment that not only includes classroom and clinical laboratory learning experiences on campus, but also opportunities to care for patients at numerous clinical sites. These sites are located in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and community agencies. Additionally, students are prepared for leadership roles in all health care settings.

Other key aspects of the learning that take place in the School of Nursing are the close relationship to clinical sites that offer internship programs for students during the summer months, the opportunity to interact with national nursing leaders who are present in the school at key points in time, and the study abroad programs which add to the value of a nursing education.

The achievements of the School of Nursing at Fairfield are best represented by the fact that students have the opportunity to be part of the Mu Chi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, the honor society for nursing. Increasingly, students continue their education at the master's and doctoral levels.

The faculty believes that the School of Nursing offers a tremendous opportunity for undergraduate and graduate nursing education in a unique academic and professional environment. We invite you to study nursing with us at Fairfield.

Jeanne M. Novotny, PhD, FAAN

Dean, School of Nursing