The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), College of Nursing has a long history of educating nurses. More than 80 years ago, the first students were admitted to The University of Nebraska School of Nursing, a three-year diploma program. In the 1950s, the diploma program was phased out and was replaced by a baccalaureate (BSN) program. From 1970 to 1986, the College of Nursing had both a two year associate degree (ASN) program and the BSN program. The ASN program was discontinued in 1986.

A master of science in nursing (MSN) program was added in 1969. Today, an MSN is available in several areas of specialization for clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, and health systems nurse specialists. Most specialty areas also offer a post-master’s certificate. And finally, in 1990, a PhD program in nursing was begun. Today, the College of Nursing offers BSN, MSN, and PhD degrees.

The first and only University of Nebraska nursing campus was located in Omaha for many years. A nursing division on the University of Nebraska Lincoln campus was added in 1974. Since then, two more nursing divisions have been added to the College of Nursing, making the College of Nursing the only college in the UNMC system to have four campus sites across the state of Nebraska. The West Nebraska Division, in Scottsbluff, was added in 1987, and the Kearney Division, in the mid-state region, joined us in 1991.

Since about 1996, distributive learning strategies and technologies have made all the nursing education programs available to all areas of the state. Not only may BSN, MSN, and PhD students may take nursing courses from any one of the four campus locations, but if the technology is available, they may take classes in their own communities or from their own homes.