St. John's CollegeSt. John's College, Department of Nursing
In 1886, the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis founded St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing. Their mission was to care for the sick and needy of the community in a spirit of joy, respect and commitment to competence. From that day to the present, the values and vision of the Hospital Sisters have underscored and directed the efforts of the faculty and students. Since the first students entered the school, the curriculum and policies have been continuously improved and updated to remain responsive to the demands of a changing educational and healthcare environment.
Initially the school was created as a two-year diploma program to educate members of the founding religious order. In 1912 the school accepted the first lay women, who are depicted here in the uniform of the day. That same year, the school voluntarily sought approval from the Illinois Department of Registration and Education (now the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation). In 1952, when the National League for Nursing (NLN) first began its accreditation program for schools of nursing, St. John’s was among those who came forward to meet this new challenge.
In addition to seeking external accreditation to improve the quality of the program, St. John’s added a liberal arts and science base to support the nursing component of the program. Beginning in 1927, the school affiliated with a variety of colleges, including DePaul University in Chicago, Quincy College (1945) and Springfield College in Illinois (1973). Today, St. John’s College students earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN). Students may attend a wide variety of colleges and universities to study the arts and sciences prior their immersion in nursing theory and practice at St. John’s College.
St. John’s has been cited as the oldest Catholic hospital based school of nursing in the United States. During our long and rich history, we have undergone many transitions. However, the constant has been dedication to the education of professional nurses whose practice exemplifies excellence in health care.
To view the complete timeline of St. John’s College from 1886 to 2011 click here