By Jennifer Lollar
U.S. News & World Report, in its survey of the Best Graduate Nursing Schools for 2021, has ranked the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing #7 in the nation among public schools of nursing in academic health systems for master’s degrees and #10 for doctor of nursing practice degrees. Three graduate nursing specialties also are highly ranked.
The School’s Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs continue to be highly ranked among all nursing schools, public and private, in the nation. Overall the MSN program is 15th and the DNP program is 19th. Schools of nursing master’s and doctoral programs are ranked yearly.
Among its specialties, the Master’s in Nursing Administration is #1 in the nation among public schools of nursing in academic health systems and #3 overall, the Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner is #4 in the nation among public schools of nursing in academic health systems and #6 overall, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice Family Nurse Practitioner is #2 in the nation among public schools of nursing in academic health systems, and #5 overall. U.S News also ranks graduate nursing specialties annually.
UAB School of Nursing Dean and Fay B. Ireland Chair Doreen Harper, PhD, RN, FAAN, said achieving top tier national rankings yearly across so many of the School’s programs and specialties reflects the quality of all of the undergraduate and graduate programs offered.
“We are honored our School and programs continue to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as among the best in our field,” she said. “The sustained impact on nursing and health care of all of our programs and specialties across our education, research and practice missions is a tribute to the commitment to excellence by our faculty, staff, students, alumni and supporters.”
She added that the continued recognition by U.S. News is further testament to the School’s position as a leader in preparing the nursing workforce to face the increased challenges and demands in health care, now and in the future.
“Our students are highly talented, ambitious and dedicated. Our faculty, staff and alumni are vested in mentoring them to become compassionate nursing leaders committed to improving the health and quality of care for people worldwide. I could not be prouder that they all continue to keep their focus on sustained excellence in all that they do.”
Harper said that while rankings are valuable, it is important not to lose sight of the big picture surrounding nursing education, practice and research, especially as this unprecedented historic event unfolds around the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“We must remember that excellence in nursing is also is measured by the care and compassion we are providing people during this uncharted time in health care and every day,” she said.
“Nurses are not only playing a vital leadership role across specialties during the coronavirus pandemic, they are health care leaders daily in caring for people with increasing rates of chronic diseases, especially those in rural and underserved areas; in discovering and translating new, cost-effective care models; and educating and developing nurse leaders forging creative change and advancing health locally and globally to improve quality of life for all people.”
