Ursuline nursing school named national Center of Excellence

The National League for Nursing has named Ursuline College in Pepper Pike a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education for its sustained efforts to “enhance student learning and professional development,” according to a news release from the college. Ursuline is one of 10 programs nationally, and the only nursing program in Ohio, honored in the learning and professional development category. The designation is for 2021 through 2025, the release continued.

“We are delighted to receive this well-deserved honor from the National League for Nursing,” said Ursuline College President Sister Christine De Vinne, OSU, PhD., in the release.

“Based on objective measures including our historically high passage rates on the national nurse licensing exam, our 100% employment rate post licensure, and our strong clinical partnerships with some of the nation’s top health care systems, we already knew our Breen School of Nursing and Health Professions offered excellent programs. This

NLN recognition lets the rest of the world know.”

The NLN Center of Excellence designation has, to-date, been awarded to only 79 schools in the nation.

In total, 23 nursing programs were recognized by the NLN in four categories. Cleveland Clinic was recognized for “Creating workplace environments that promote the academic progression of nurses,” the release said.

Breen faculty will receive the Center of Excellence award on behalf of Ursuline College at the 2021 NLN Education Summit in

Washington, D.C. in September.

At that same gathering Ursuline faculty will receive two other NLN awards.

Dr. Patricia A. Sharpnack, DNP, RN, CNE, NEA-BC, ANEF, FAAN, will receive the NLN’s prestigious Mary Adelaide Nutting Award for Outstanding Teaching or Leadership in Nursing Education, the release said. The NLN Awards Committee unanimously selected Sharpnack for this honor, awarded to one educator annually. The Awards Committee found her contributions to be an outstanding representation of the NLN’s mission: promoting excellence in nursing education to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of the nation and the global community.

Associate Professor Laura Goliat DNP, APRN, FNP-BC will be inducted as a Fellow in the NLN Academy of Nursing Education. Individuals selected for this honor have made enduring and substantial contributions to nursing education as teachers, mentors, scholars, public policy advocates, practice partners and administrators.

Staff report