September 7, 2010

School of Nursing welcomes its largest incoming class

The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing has welcomed its highest enrollment of entering baccalaureate students since it opened in 1984. The new class of 154 traditional baccalaureate students began its academic journey on Aug. 25. Combined with the total students in all baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral programs, the school has 775 students for the 2010–2011 academic year, the largest student body ever.

The cohort is also more diverse than previous classes, with Asian, Hispanic, African-American and Native American ethnicities all represented. The class also boasts 15 male students, the highest number since 2002, representing 10 percent of the incoming class. (The overall national average of male nurses is 6.6 percent.) The students hail from 21 states and 11 countries.

“This increased enrollment is an encouraging sign that the nursing demand can be met,” said Sandra Angell, associate dean for student affairs.

The school’s traditional baccalaureate program enrolls students entering their junior year who do not have a bachelor’s degree, and those pursuing a second bachelor’s degree. Seventy-six percent of the Class of 2012—118 students—already hold a baccalaureate degree.

Among the new online options the school is offering this academic year are Applied Health Informatics, Clinical Nurse Specialist, CNS-Forensic Focus, Health Systems Management, master’s program and Nurse Educator Certificate. A BS-to-MSN with Clinical Residency option will be offered in January.
Angell noted that in addition to increasing numbers of nursing students, the new programs and formats offer a more customized nursing education. “We can now offer more options to our students so that they can pursue whatever professional goals they might have, and perhaps open some new doors they may not have thought of previously,” she said.