The College of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Southern Indiana

The College of Nursing and Health Professions (CNHP) is one of four academic colleges at the University of Southern Indiana (USI). The college's accredited nursing programs prepare students with clinical skills, academic knowledge, and professional values needed to provide quality health care. Faculty members use evidence-based practice, education, research, service, and innovative technology to ensure that program graduates meet community, regional, and national health care needs. The college offers 13 degree programs, including three associate degree programs, seven baccalaureate degree programs, three master's degree programs, and two doctoral degree programs, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program and the BSN to DNP program.

Bachelor of Science Nursing Program (BSN)

USI's BSN program is designed to prepare students to be leading professionals in their fields and is accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing, and by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

RN to BSN Program

USI's School of Nursing offers nurses with associate degrees or nursing diplomas the opportunity to further their education and ultimately obtain Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees. The nursing courses required for the program are provided solely through distance education techniques, which allows for the flexibility of completing the degree program in one's own home and at one's own schedule.

Master's Degree Program in Nursing (MSN)

USI's Master's Degree Program in Nursing (MSN) is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). It is offered online with no required campus visits. Fall and spring courses are 16 weeks in length; summer course offerings are 10 weeks long. The MSN degree program offers the following specialty areas: - Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG-CNS) - Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Acute (AGNP - Acute) - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).

Post master's degree certificate

Master's degree prepared nurses may apply for admission to receive a post master's degree certificate in the following specialties: - Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG-CNS) - Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Acute (AGNP - Acute) - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree Program

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program prepares experts in advanced nursing with emphasis placed on innovative, evidence-based practice. The curriculum includes a minimum of 36 additional DNP degree program credit hours beyond the MSN degree program for a total of 78 credit hours. It is offered online, with two required campus visits per year. The program of study includes the completion of an evidence-based capstone project that provides evidence of advanced practice synthesis and program learning outcomes.

Students admitted to the USI DNP degree program select from two areas of study concentration:

- Advanced Practice and Systems

- Organizational Leadership

In both concentrations, the plan of study is the same with all students enrolling in the required 15 DNP degree program courses. Students are required to complete assignments within each course that address the identified study concentration.

BSN to DNP Program

The College of Nursing and Health Profession’s commitment to quality nursing education and responsiveness to regional and national healthcare needs serve as the foundation for our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. This practice-focused doctorate will prepare nurses in multiple roles to make contributions to healthcare and nursing through scholarly practice, healthcare leadership, and nursing education. Course content builds upon the bachelor of science in nursing degree and the BSN to DNP curriculum includes a minimum of 78 credit hours. The curriculum consists of a four-year (full-time) or five-year (part-time) plan of study for doctoral level coursework and includes the completion of an evidence-based DNP project.  The program includes two-to-three days of on-campus coursework most semesters.  Clinical hours will be completed during the final year of the program.

Academic programs in the College of Nursing and Health Professions

Academic programs in the College of Nursing and Health professions include: - Continuing education - Dental assisting - Dental hygiene - Diagnostic medical sonography - Food and nutrition - Health services - Master of Health Administration degree program - Nursing - Occupational therapy - Occupational therapy assistant - Radiologic and imaging sciences - Respiratory therapy– Health Informatics and Information Management

Continuing Education

The College of Nursing and Health Professions offers convenient and flexible online continuing education for nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals worldwide. All of the college's certificate programs are delivered to the learner over the Internet in a format that allows participants to "attend class" any time of day or night in one's own home or office.

International Programs

Students enrolled in nursing and other programs can broaden their educational experience by studying abroad in Evansville's sister city, Osnabrück, Germany, and in more than 50 other countries around the globe. Programs offer a variety of experiences, from specialized courses taught entirely in English, to direct enrollment in the foreign university. Students receive USI credit for the coursework completed during the summer, semester or academic year at an approved USI study abroad location.

Southwest Indiana Area Health Education Center (SWI-AHEC)

SWI-AHEC, hosted at the University of Southern Indiana in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, is part of a national network with a mission to improve health by leading the nation in the recruitment, training, and retention of a diverse health workforce for underserved communities. SWI-AHEC serves the 10 counties of Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick.

Center for Healthy Aging and Wellness

The Center for Healthy Aging and Wellness, housed in the College of Nursing and Health Professions at USI, is dedicated to advancing the understanding of aging and promoting the well-being of older adults through interdisciplinary education, research, and engaged partnerships. There are several academic programs in place within the College of Nursing and Health Professions to prepare students to meet the unique needs of an aging population.

Dental Clinic

The Dental Hygiene Clinic offers dental hygiene services to adults and children of all ages in the community. All services are performed by students and are supervised and evaluated by dental hygiene faculty members.

Clinical Simulation Center

USI's College of Nursing and Health Professions' Clinical Simulation Center (CSC) offers students the opportunity to practice simple tasks as assessing vital signs, to more complicated procedures such as insertion of nasal gastric tubes and intravenous therapy. The CSC is used by many programs in the nursing and health professions departments with an emphasis on development and implementation of interprofessional scenarios.

In the school's simulations, students are given scenarios in which they can use their learned skills and critical thinking. Dental hygiene students practice assessing vital signs, radiology students practice positioning for portable X-rays, and respiratory care students use simulation to practice their assessment skills and implementation of treatments. Nursing students are offered opportunities to practice tasks, ranging from caring for infants to those in the final stages of life. Electronic medical record charting is now a part of the clinical simulation experience.

Financial Aid Opportunities at the University of Southern Indiana

USI's Student Financial Assistance Office is committed to helping students and their families seek and obtain financial resources. Undergraduate students at the University of Southern Indiana have many opportunities for financial aid including grants, loans, and scholarships.

Expert Faculty Members

The College of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Southern Indiana employs expert faculty members who have practical experience in their specialties and are dedicated to providing the highest level of education to students. Many of the school's nursing faculty members hold national certifications in their specialty areas, and a large number of the faculty members either already hold doctoral degrees or are currently enrolled in doctoral education. Faculty members' expertise also enables them to advance the nursing profession and health care delivery through research and leadership activities.

Student Organizations

- Omicron Psi Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society

- USI Association of Nursing Students (USIANS)

- Food and Nutrition Student Organization

- Student American Dental Hygienists' Association

- Student Occupational Therapy Association

- HOSA - Future Health Professionals

- Respiratory Care Club

- Sigma Phi Omega, National Academic Honor and Professional Society for Gerontology

- STELLAR - Student Gerontology Club

About the University of Southern Indiana and Evansville, Indiana

Founded in 1965, the University of Southern Indiana enrolls nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students in 80 undergraduate majors, 10 master's degree programs, and one doctoral degree program. The campus of this comprehensive public university is on 1,400 acres just outside of Evansville in southwestern Indiana. USI also serves more than 15,000 individuals annually in continuing education courses, noncredit workshops, conferences, and seminars.

The third largest city in the state, Evansville is located along the Ohio River and is the regional hub of the southwestern corner of Indiana. Students are able to take advantage of the city's many attractions, including museums, a zoo, sports teams, theatre, and philharmonic. USI is also conveniently located within an easy drive of Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, and St. Louis.