Our Mission

The purpose of the School of Nursing is to prepare nurses to practice professional nursing that meets the dynamic health care needs of individuals, families, groups and communities. Faculty facilitate the education of students in the art and science of nursing to provide ethical, holistic, culturally competent and population-based collaborative care.

Our Vision

From its beginnings in 1937, Duquesne University School of Nursing has challenged its students to develop their minds, hearts and spirits. Dedicated to excellence and imbued by a sense of purpose, the faculty of nursing integrates nursing science and evidence-based practice with moral and spiritual values, preparing its students to be leaders, locally and globally. As citizens of the world, we embrace ecumenism and diversity, standing with the oppressed and vulnerable and teaching by example.

Statement of Inclusion

Duquesne University School of Nursing creates an environment that values a culture of inclusion and openness for faculty, staff and students, and its community partners in pursuit of teaching/learning, scholarship, research and services both locally and globally.

Five-Year Strategic Plan - 2018-2023

Duquesne School of Nursing will identify bold pathways to offer students the knowledge and skill they will need for productive and fulfilling lives and careers as nurses in the 21st century.

  • Strategically diversify online pedagogy in all graduate programs.
  • Offer forward-thinking undergraduate education incorporating new educational technologies to promote learning.
  • Develop unique learning opportunities for students in clinical practica experiences.
  • Establish priority areas for interdisciplinary research consistent with the SON mission and national priorities.
  • Develop research synergies and teams in the SON.
  • Involve undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral fellows in faculty research.
  • Provide faculty with resources and support for teaching ethical components of practice.
  • Incorporate ethical implications of emerging technologies, laws and scientific/clinical knowledge into teaching.
  • Integrate the needs of an increasingly diverse US population into the curriculum and course objectives, in classrooms, simulation and on-line education.
  • Maintain excellent graduate and/or undergraduate outcomes in the form of licensing and certification rates.
  • Create relevant educational and patient applications in collaboration with the Department of
  • Biomedical Engineering.
  • Offer a biennial Nursing Ethics Symposium.
     

Duquesne School of Nursing will become the region's flagship institution for community engagement through mutually beneficial partnerships that advance the city, the region and the world.

  • Partner with Center for Community Engaged Teaching and Research to increase service and community engagement.
  • Increase international student enrollment.
  • Establish international visibility by supporting international conferences, as well as research, teaching and practice initiatives.
  • Expand global opportunities for undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty through formal and long-term relationships with universities and organizations abroad (such as
  • University College Dublin, Ireland, UPOLI in Nicaragua and expand African opportunities).
    Increase cultural and global awareness at our School and in our home communities.
  • Strengthen and leverage relationship with the University international office as well as other schools/disciplines that share common goals with the SON.
  • Explore the development of a University Employee Wellness Campaign.
     

Duquesne School of Nursing's academic programs will transcend traditional boundaries, positioning it as a leader in interdisciplinary and interprofessional programs.

  • Increase joint/secondary faculty appointments for nursing faculty at the University.
  • Identify and develop interdisciplinary certificates both in-person and online to complement
  • SON Graduate Program offerings (e.g., Spiritual Care, Nurse Legal Consultant and Forensic/Prison practice).
  • Facilitate tenure track faculty's obtaining a mentor outside of the nursing discipline.
  • Develop dual and joint degrees with other schools/ departments at the University.
  • Engage in interdisciplinary and interprofessional education and research in priority areas.
  • Support interdisciplinary collaboration with hospitals and organizations that provide jobs for
  • SON graduates and joint appointments for faculty.
  • Explore a flexible curriculum to help students to obtain a minor.
  • Expand simulation, especially interdisciplinary simulation, with new modalities.
  • Collaborate with corporations/health care systems to develop innovative educational technologies.
  • Enhance Clinical Faculty Development Program.
  • Establish an ongoing development program for all academic advisors, in-person and online, to ensure optimum student advisement and services.
  • Provide ongoing Faculty Development Sessions on new instructional technology and interdisciplinary simulation.
  • Maintain a reduced faculty teaching workload plan for the faculty member developing or maintaining an independent program of externally funded research.
     

Duquesne School of Nursing will create a vibrant campus community that fosters the achievements of its talented nursing students, faculty and staff.

  • Develop and implement a plan of action to address the recruitment/retention of students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.Increase students from underrepresented populations.
  • Increase faculty and staff from underrepresented populations.
  • Identify and apply for external funding consistent with SON priority areas from both government and foundation sources.
  • Assess and adopt strategies to support a diverse, multicultural workplace, including an annual Staff Development Program.
  • Create a SON Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
  • Offer External Academic Leadership opportunities to develop diverse faculty leaders.
  • Develop and implement comprehensive faculty education and mentorship programs for all early- to mid-career research and clinical track faculty.
  • Increase the number of faculty inducted into the American Academy of Nursing, American
  • Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and Academy of Nurse Education Fellows, and Sigma Theta Tau and other research organizations.
     

Duquesne School of Nursing will encourage an entrepreneurial spirit that will allow it to creatively steward university assets, adapt to changing environments and enhance its financial vitality to fulfill its mission for a new era.

  • Increase programs and student populations in high-growth majors congruent with health care projections, needs assessment and SON resources.
  • Grow enrollment up to 1500 students, recruiting students into an expanded portfolio of BSN, MSN, DNP and PhD programs.
  • Study the potential for the development of:Undergraduate programs: an RN to MSN, BSN to DNP, and a BSN to PhD.
  • Master's program: MSN in Executive Nursing Leadership and Health Care Management, and additional advanced practice programs Psychiatric-Mental Nurse Practitioner, Adult Acute
  • Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, and possibly Nurse Midwifery).
  • Doctoral program: Early Assurance Doctoral Admission, DNP to PhD, PhD in Nursing Ethics.
  • Develop SON's infrastructure, facilities and resources to keep pace with enrollment growth and increased academic excellence.
  • Secure scholarships targeted to diverse populations including students with disabilities.
  • Secure an Endowed Chair in Nursing Ethics to support the PhD in Nursing Ethics program in cooperation with the Center for Health Care Ethics.
  • Recruit and retain additional mid-career, researchactive faculty.
  • Identify and apply for external funding consistent with SON priority areas from both government and foundation sources.
    Significantly increase number of grant submissions and funding.