Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice

One of the main contributions of The Catherine McAuley School of Nursing in the state and the region and in the country is that we are producing quality nurse practitioners to improve the patient outcomes across the country. We teach students to approach the patients in a holistic manner, not just a person who comes into the clinic with a cough or a sore throat, but rather the whole patient, their family, their occupation, everything about them. And we don’t just isolate that one experience for them.

Charles Gulas:

All of our graduate courses are based upon our strength and our experience in undergraduate curriculums.

Dan Spiller:

I would say that Maryville’s programs are distinctive because they were built from the ground up. Maryville had a reputable nurse practitioner program prior to going online. And so a lot of the resources and tradition were used to build the online program.

Nina Zimmermann:

Our faculty are registered nurses. Most are nurse practitioners, board certified nurse practitioners, who practice currently and are able to translate practice in the classroom setting.

Jennifer Gwin:

I think Maryville’s online nursing program is distinctive because we have faculty who are really devoted to the success of students.

Elizabeth Buck:

We engage with our students very intimately, even in an online environment. That’s one of the things that we have translated from our on-ground programs to our online programs, because we have really close relationships with our students.

Dan Spiller:

The Maryville faculty eat, sleep, and breathe nursing and education and how those two work together. And I don’t think I’ve ever met a more dedicated group of academic professionals.

Elizabeth Stacey:

Students get a lot of information and great advice and support from their faculty that are teaching the courses as well as the program directors.

Nina Zimmermann:

Students will have the opportunity to speak with me via a discussion board, an assignment, an email, or they even have the choice of calling me directly in my office or by my cell phone.

Jennifer Gwin:

The Catherine McAuley School of Nursing makes students feel a part of the community, especially in clinical courses, by promoting activities that draws students together.

Elizabeth Buck:

One of the other things that we do at Maryville is that we promote networking among the students. Every cohort is made up of a variety of students from a variety of different states, so that when you’re studying with one another, you’re getting a different perspective.

Charles Gulas:

My advice to online nursing students is, one, not to choose Maryville’s program if they’re looking for the easiest way to get a degree. And in Maryville, we really believe that involvement in engaged learning is the best way for students to learn and to really understand the content.

Elizabeth Stacey:

It’s really important to plan ahead and make sure that you set a schedule for yourself.

Nina Zimmermann:

I would recommend establishing a relationship with each instructor and communicating any needs or challenges that you have early, so that those needs and challenges may be addressed.

Dan Spiller:

There’s three keys that I think could be applied to the program that will make a student successful and that’s dedication, accountability, and time management.

Elizabeth Buck:

Characteristics of a successful Maryville online nursing student include being comfortable with your independent learning, being self-sufficient and being self-disciplined so that you don’t fall behind in your work and you keep up.