UR Nursing Named 2024 NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education

The University of Rochester School of Nursing has been named a 2024 National League for Nursing (NLN) Center of Excellence in Nursing Education for sustained accomplishments in creating environments that enhance student learning and professional development.

"Joining the ranks of NLN Centers of Excellence is a landmark achievement for our school,” said Dean Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN. “It underscores our role as leaders in nursing education and our commitment to advancing the profession through innovative teaching, research, clinician practice, and professional development."

The UR School of Nursing consistently ranks among the top 25 of U.S. nursing schools for its bachelor’s and master’s programs and is renowned for pioneering the unification model of nursing, blending research and education with clinical practice as part of the University of Rochester Medical Center.

In 2022, the school opened a 26,000-square-foot learning facility with advanced simulation, VR, augmented reality, and experiential learning spaces, and was recently endorsed by the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning. The school was also one of the first nursing schools to be recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for its innovative efforts to prepare future nurses in a digital learning environment.  

“NLN Centers of Excellence reflect the extraordinary team and teamwork required to engage in the transformative work of nursing education — not just during one semester or even a single academic year, but in a sustained way that demands genuine dedication and authentic commitment to producing consistent programmatic excellence,” said NLN Chair Patricia Sharpnack, DNP, RN, CNE, NEA-BC, ANEF, FAAN, dean and Strawbridge Professor at the Breen School of Nursing and Health Professions.

The UR School of Nursing will be formally honored at the 2024 NLN Education Summit, September 18-20, beside 12 other nursing programs across the country that are being recognized.

“Being named a Center of Excellence validates our approach to nursing education: one that prioritizes student success through experiential learning and technology integration to achieve critical competencies for contemporary nursing practice in complex healthcare settings,” said Lydia Rotondo, DNP, RN, CNS, FNAP, senior associate dean for graduate education and innovation.

Learn more about the School of Nursing’s innovative approach to nursing education.