Founded in 1992
In the fall of 1992, the Department of Defense received the authority along with an appropriation to plan and implement a nurse practitioner training program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). The intent of the legislation was to meet the needs for advanced practice nurses in the uniformed services to include the Army, Navy, Air Force and U.S. Public Health Service.
Use the links below to navigate between the different sections:
Accreditation Status
In 2002, the GSN was granted an 8-year accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). It expires in 2010.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) granted the GSN a 10-year accreditation in 2002, which expires in May 2012.
In 2003, the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) granted the Nurse Anesthesia a 10-year accreditation, which expires in September 2013.
The Family Nurse Practitioner program meets or exceeds all standards established by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties.
The Perioperative Clinical Nurse Specialist program meets or exceeds all standards established by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) "Essentials of Master's Education for Advanced Practice Nurse Specialists (NACNS) recommendations for curricular content.
GSN: An EEO Provider
USUHS gives careful consideration to all available information about each applicant and selects students on a competitive basis without regard to race, color, sex, creed or national origin. Minorities underrepresented in science are encouraged to apply. USUHS is an equal opportunity employer. For further information please refer to the Civilian Human Resources and Employment Department.
Graduate School of Nursing History
In the fall of 1992, the Department of Defense received the authority along with an appropriation to plan and implement a nurse practitioner training program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). The intent of the legislation was to meet the needs for advanced practice nurses in the uniformed services to include the Army, Navy, Air Force and U.S. Public Health Service.
Since academic resources were already in place at USUHS, the Graduate School of Nursing was created to provide programs leading to a Master of Science in Nursing Degree (MSN). The program areas initially targeted were Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesia (CRNA). The FNP program admitted its first students in August 1993. The CRNA program admitted students in June of 1994. Both programs have admitted students in the succeeding academic years. These students are being prepared as future federal advanced nurse practitioners and investigators of the discipline of nursing. The graduates represent the future Federal nursing leaders in their respective services and organizations. Excellence in clinical practice with the ability to respond to military mobilization, humanitarian needs and disaster relief during times of war and peace are hallmarks of the graduates of this program.
The USUHS GSN was granted a 5-year initial accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, the accrediting body for all nursing programs, in December 1996 and an 8-year accreditation in 2002. The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs accredited the CRNA program in 1994 and in 1997. The GSN received "Preliminary Approval" from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) in 1998 and was subsequently accredited in 2002 after a 2001 site survey. The FNP program meets or exceeds all standards established by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties.
Upon completion of the graduate degree, all students are prepared to take the appropriate national certification examination in their nursing specialty, where, historically speaking, they do very well.
As of December 2002. seventy students have graduated from the Family Nurse Practitioner program and are serving as nurse practitioners. Eighty seven students have graduated from the Nurse Anesthesia program and are serving as certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA). There are currently 54 students in the School representing the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Public Health Service. Sixty students have graduated from the Distance Learning Post Masters Adult Certificate Program as of May 2001. Twelve students have graduated from the Resident Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program.
Mission Statement
Educate students as advanced practice nurses, scientists and scholars for service as future leaders in military operational environments, federal health systems and university settings. In a dynamic educational environment, prepare graduate nursing students to provide care, teach and conduct research for the uniformed services and federal health care system during peace, disasters, war and other contingencies.
Shared Vision
Develop a diverse interdisciplinary community of scholars who will collaborate with agencies throughout the military and federal government to: provide flexible, innovative, responsive education; conduct focused research consistent with the military and federal health system mission(s) and contribute appropriately to health services through faculty practice.