Timeline
Summer 1965
- Elizabeth Franklin Dick became the first Director of the Program.
Fall 1965
- Associate of Arts degree program admitted the first class of students. Program was administered by the University Extension Program of the University of Nevada, Reno. A federal grant established a four-year Intercampus Television Project, allowing associate degree students from Southern Nevada to obtain a baccalaureate degree from the University of Nevada, and Reno-based students seeking an associate degree program to obtain as associate degree from Nevada Southern (later, UNLV)
- Regina Schreiber Jacobson hired to establish Associate Degree Nursing Program, University of Nevada ( Reno), Southern Extension.
January 1966
- Administrative control to Nevada Southern.
March 1966
- Program became Nevada Southern University, College of General and Technical Studies, Nevada Technical Institute Dept. of Nursing.
Fall 1966
- Margaret Simon became Director. Dwight Marshall, Dean of College.
1969
- Name changed to University of Nevada, Las Vegas, College of Allied Health, Department of Nursing.
1970
- MaryAnn Michel appointed Director.
- Work begins on establishing a 4-year Baccalaureate Program.
- Telecommunication project was discontinued. A 2+2 (RN to BSN) program was approved for UNLV.
1971
- Career Ladder approved by Board of Regents.
- Admitted first class of "upper-two" students.
- Classes allowed the associate degree graduate to obtain a baccalaureate degree at UNLV.
1973
- Mary Ann Kedzuf (Michel) appointed Dean of the College of Allied Health.
1973
- Move from Frazer to Carlson Education Building.
1974
- Rosemary Witt was appointed Chair of the Department of Nursing.
1976
- Initial Accreditation of the Baccalaureate Degree Program.
1983
- Federal Grant to initiate a Graduate Program in Nursing.
1984
- First class of Graduate Students admitted. Program focused on Tertiary Nursing: Adult.
1985
- Graduate program expanded to include a focus on Secondary Nursing: Adult.
1986
- Permission granted from the Board of Regents to discontinue the associate degree program and initiate a basic baccalaureate degree program.
1986
- Continuing Accreditation for the Baccalaureate Program in Nursing.
1987
- Last class of associate degree students admitted.
- First class of basic baccalaureate students admitted into the program.
- Mary Ann (Kedzuf) Michel resigned.
- Vicky Carwein appointed Dean.
1989
- Initial accreditation of the Graduate Degree Program.
1992
- First class in distance education based upper-two pathway of BSN program was offered to students in Elko, Nevada. Classes offered over compressed-video with simultaneous classes offered on campus and in Elko. Classes were offered on a part-time basis. Three cohorts of students graduated.
1993
- 2 + 2 classes admitted only in fall.
1993
- Courses offered in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program.
1994
- Continuing accreditation for the Baccalaureate and Masters Program.
1995
- Dean Carwein resigned. Carolyn Sabo named Interim Dean.
1996
- Current MSN programs modified to meet the Guidelines required for certification
as a Clinical Nursing Specialist (CNS) pathway. - Carolyn Sabo appointed Dean of College of Health Science
1999
- Addition of PNP pathway to Nurse Practitioner Program.
- Distance Education courses initiated at the graduate level.
2000
- Addition of Geriatric NP pathway to Nurse Practitioner Program. Addition of a 12 credit
post-baccalaureate case management certificate program.
2001
- RN to BSN/MSN pathway approved. CNS program discontinued because CNS role
was not being used by local health care employers.
2003
- Carolyn Sabo resigns as Dean, returns to teaching. Rosemary Witt named Interim Director.
Nevada Legislative mandate to increase enrollment. Masters program, Education Track
approved.
2003-2004
- Changes in baccalaureate program.
2004
- PhD program designed and approved. Department becomes a School of Nursing.
Carolyn Yucha appointed as first Dean of the School of Nursing.
First Master's Education Track students admitted.
2005
- Board of Regents approved two departments, Physiological Nursing and Psychosocial
Nursing. Sally Miller and Lori Candela appointed as department chairpersons.
First class of PhD students admitted.
2006
- Tish Smyer hired as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Barbara St. Pierre Schneider hired as Associate Dean for Research.
2007
- First Annual Health Sciences Interdisciplinary Research/Scholarship Day held.
2008
- First students graduated from PhD program
2009
- Clinical Simulation Center of Las Vegas (CSCLV) opened on UNLV’s Shadow Lane Campus (collaboration with Nevada State College and University of Nevada School of Medicine)
2010
- First students admitted to the Doctor of Nursing Program (collaboration with
University of Nevada Reno)
2011
- Established Annual Dinner for Doctoral Students and Graduates
2012
- Developed standardized patient testing program for FNP students at the CSCLV
- First students graduated from the Doctor of Nursing Program (collaboration with University of Nevada Reno)
- School opens first Dedicated Education Unit at Summerlin Hospital and Medical Center
2013
- Dr. Jillian Inouye appointed as Associate Dean for Research
2014
- Online MS program first ranked in top 15 percent by US News & World Report
- Established psychiatric standardized patient program for BSN students
2015
- School of Nursing celebrates 50 years
- Addition of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Ph.D.
- Dr. Rebecca Benfield appointed as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
- Dr. Mary Bondmass appointed as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
2016
- Started DNP program (independent from UNR) offering Advanced Practice and Academic Leadership tracks
2017
- Started Nurse Executive track in DNP program
- Dr. Du Feng appointed as Interim Associate Dean for Research
- School opens Dedicated Education Unit at University Medical Center
2018
- Dr. Angela Amar appointed as Dean
2019
- School hosts inaugural Nurse Camp
2020
- Dr. Steven J. Palazzo appointed Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
- Dr. Susan McLennon appointed Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
- MSN and DNP Programs rank in Top 50 among best graduate nursing programs by U.S. News and World Report
2021
- Online MS Program ranked in Top 10 by U.S. News and World Report
Sources: Portions of this historical account were taken from "A History of the Associate Degree Nursing Program in Nevada, 1963-1983" an unpublished doctoral dissertation by Delores Middlebrook. The summarization and update was completed by Rosemary Witt, 8/93. Additions to the original from above by Maureen Matteson-Kane, 10/05 taken from:
Lied Library, Special Collections
Rosemary Witt's notes from annual Accreditation Reports 1994-2004
Maureen Matteson-Kane, Collected documents, Alumni Association
Rod Lee Bigelow Health Sciences Building dedication
Zeta Kappa, Photographs
Oral Histories: Margaret Simon, Jean Rambo Maltrotti, MaryAnn Michel, Rosemary Witt
Pins, booklets collection of Sybil Strano-Perry
Scrapbook, newspaper clippings, Margaret Simon, 1965-1971 Personal letter, Dwight Marshall, Jan.22, 1992