Dear Nursing Students, 

I want to welcome you to Grand Canyon University!  The College of Nursing has served Arizona since 1982 and over the past few years has expanded its programs into the online format.  GCU offers the pre-licensure nursing program on its main campus and three satellite campuses in Arizona; St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, John C. Lincoln Health Network in Phoenix and the Hospital Council of Southern Arizona in Tucson.  In 2008, the pre-licensure program had just under 400 students.  GCU can also boost excellent scores on the national licensing exam (NCLEX) and in Spring 2008, we achieved a 100% pass rate. 

Another popular program is designed to help nurses with their Associate degree or Diploma in Nursing to obtain a BSN.  For students with an AAS, GCU will accept up to 84 transfer credits.  The BSN program of study is 36 credits and can be finished in four semesters.  This program is offered fully online and also in cohorts offered at hospitals in selected communities.  Currently, GCU has just under 1400 RN-BSN students.

Finally, GCU offers four Masters of Science tracks; Nurse Educator, Nurse Leader, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).  The Nurse Educator and Nurse Leader tracks are offered fully online while the FNP and CNS tracks require specific clinical hours. 

Our goal at GCU is to provide you with a solid nursing education offered within the tenants of our Christian heritage.  We focus on the body-mind-spirit in health and healing.  Students are challenged to integrate spiritual principles into practice when caring for patients, families, and communities.  This emphasis is what we believe sets us apart from other schools.  Our graduates often share how they have made a difference in a persons life because they tapped into their spiritual needs.

Again, I welcome you to GCU and to the College of Nursing.  I know your journey will be educationally challenging and professionally rewarding! 

Anne M. McNamara Ph.D., R.N.
Dean and Professor of Nursing
College of Nursing and Health Sciences