WELCOME FROM THE DEAN
Welcome to the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, and congratulations on taking the next big step toward achieving your personal and professional goals in nursing. Our health care system is undergoing unprecedented change and the needs and opportunities for nurses have never been greater. With an aging and increasingly complex patient population, the nation is looking to nursing to play an increasing role in care coordination, quality improvement efforts, and team-based care. Having a nursing workforce prepared to meet the challenges of today’s rapidly-evolving health care environment begins with a commitment to continuous learning, and I am delighted that you have chosen the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University as your partner in this journey.
The School of Nursing is an internationally renowned institution with a more than 100-year history of preparing nurse leaders, scholars, and innovators who are ready to lead change and advance health care for all people. Emphasizing evidence-based nursing, critical thinking, ethical practice, and social responsibility, our programs develop nurses who are highly skilled and actively engaged in shaping policy and solving real-world challenges in health care around the world. This includes being mindful of the social determinants of health, which have become more apparent in the nation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am increasingly proud of the School’s ability to incorporate current events into its teaching to better empower our students to enact social change.
Our undergraduate and graduate programs are designed to respond to your individual learning needs. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks our programs amongst the nation’s best. As a top-ranking nursing school for National Institutes of Health research funding, students in all programs also have the opportunity to engage in game-changing research that is improving care delivery and patient health.
Students will experience some of these world-class programs in our new Emory Nursing Learning Center near downtown Decatur. The former bank building has been transformed into a state-of-the-art space with simulation and skills labs, an innovation hub, classrooms, a home lab, and places to eat, study, and gather. We trust that this incredible space will enrich your learning experience, serve as a catalyst for innovative thinking, and prepare you to become visionary nursing leaders and scholars.
While our programs and facilities are among the very best, the School of Nursing’s greatest strength is its people. Our faculty are nationally and internationally recognized experts in their disciplines and provide great insight and mentoring in a wide range of specialties. Faculty work in partnership with our dedicated staff to support students’ success through every step in their School of Nursing journey. You will become an integral part of our nursing community.
Whether you are currently an undergraduate student who wishes to continue your studies or a seasoned professional who is looking to develop the additional skills, credentials, or degrees necessary to advance your career, I invite you to explore what the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing has to offer. Learn more about our community and programs through this catalog, our website, and social media.
We look forward to having you join our community. Sincerely,
Sean Clarke, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dean, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing Emory University