Chair’s Message

Welcome to the NIU School of Nursing. I hope that you will take some time to explore our site to learn about our remarkable academic programs. We are proud of the reputation our school has established in the nursing community since our establishment in 1959. With over 9,000 alumni nurses in the Chicagoland area and throughout the world, our reputation will precede and support every new graduate who enters the job market.

The field of nursing and health care in general is becoming more diverse and continues to be in high demand each year. If you choose to become a Northern nurse, your future will be full of exciting opportunities in a field that is often a "calling" for those drawn to it. Being a part of the health care team that directly cares for patients and impacts their lives to such a significant degree is both challenging and extremely satisfying.

Our School of Nursing is led by dedicated faculty who are committed to bringing you the most current evidence-based methods of instruction and to becoming a regional center of excellence for nursing education. Our nurse scientists provide important research that informs our nursing practice and provides opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to participate in research. Our vision is to become leaders in research and practice to improve patient outcomes here in DeKalb, throughout the state and globally. We endeavor to engage students in and out of the classroom in diverse hospital and community settings. Internationally, we have opportunities to engage in mental health research in the Dominican Republic, and we have an exciting study abroad program to Ireland each summer.

We offer undergraduate and graduate programs leading to your B.S. and M.S. in nursing, as well as a Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice and a B.S. to DNP with a Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization. We now offer all of our RN-B.S. courses in an eight-week format to provide flexibility to nurses juggling both a career and the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Whether your goal is to become a nurse or take the next educational step to expand your nursing role, we are excited that you are part of NIU School of Nursing and we look forward to your joining the ranks of Northern nurses!

Go Huskies!

Kari Hickey, Ph.D.

Chair, School of Nursing