Imelda Reyes, Interim Dean
Welcome to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Nursing (UNLVSON). Our Slogan is “Nurse Leaders Begin Here." As Dean, my role is to promote this slogan, to help advance our vision of shaping the future of nursing education, research, and practice.
What does it mean to be a nurse leader? The short version is a commitment to excellent work, a willingness to learn, and the desire to make a difference. This means being creative, thinking outside the box, and making an impression with the work we do.
The School of Nursing exemplifies all of this with a talented and caring faculty and staff. We focus on helping students excel in their chosen profession. Our educational programs are designed to develop and enhance students’ clinical skills, knowledge, and leadership abilities. UNLVSON emphasizes the importance of applying these traits towards real-life scenarios. Our utilization of the Clinical Simulation Center at Shadow Lane, for instance, provides hands-on training and experiences to better prepare our students for the real world.
This is a critical time to be a nurse within Nevada. We live in a world with many healthcare concerns. Rising health care costs, growth of an aging population, and technological developments are happening concurrently with an emphasis on quality and value of services, prevention through population health, and growth of ambulatory services. Our school strives to prepare nurse clinicians, leaders, and scholars to meet these challenges and the future health care needs of Nevada and the nation. We appreciate the support from the state and plan to increase our cohort sizes to meet more of the demand for the traditional program here at UNLV. In addition, to meet the needs, we have some exciting new programs. We now offer a Direct Entry MSN for students that have a bachelor’s degree in another field and are looking for a fast route to licensure as an RN. Additionally, we have also added a Nurse-Midwifery program, both programs are starting in Fall 2023.
We offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor of nursing practice degrees as well as the only Ph.D. in nursing degree in Nevada. The UNLV School of Nursing’s reputation is growing worldwide. Our online graduate nursing program has consistently ranked among the best in the country. Most recently, U.S. News & World report ranked our online master’s nursing program in the top 100 in the nation, and our Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing programs in the Top 100 for best graduate schools. We provide high quality clinical practice and innovative nursing education, bolstered by a cadre of faculty who are producing cutting edge research that advances nursing science.
Thank you for visiting our website. Please continue your virtual tour of our academic programs, achievements, and history to get a better understanding of what UNLV School of Nursing offers. We hope you will consider joining us whether you are interested in beginning your nursing career, earning an advanced degree, or contributing as a faculty or staff.
I’d also like to give two special shout-outs. One, to our fabulous alumni who are staying connected to the UNLV Nursing family. The other to our generous donors for helping support our programs. We appreciate you and all you do for the school. Be sure to check back for updates as we advance our vision.
I am deeply honored to serve as dean of UNLV School of Nursing and look forward meeting you soon. If you have any questions or want to share feedback, please email unlv.son@unlv.edu.