By Pareasa Rahimi
The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing has once again been designated as a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence. This second designation recognizes the School for distinguishing itself for the teaching expertise of faculty. The School was honored for its demonstrated commitment to excellence and resources that have been invested and sustained over a period of time.
The School is one of 13 nursing education programs to be recognized in 2024. The designation is for a four-year term, through 2028, and is renewable every five years thereafter. The School received its first designation as an NLN Center of Excellence in 2017, cited for sustained efforts to enhance student learning and professional development. That designation was renewed in 2022 for another five years.
“This newest NLN distinction is an incredible honor and reflects the School’s concerted efforts in continuing excellence across its teaching mission,” said Dean and Fay B. Ireland Endowed Chair Maria R. Shirey, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, ANEF, FACHE, FNAP, FAAN. “Individual faculty success is a necessary component of building a great school, and the investment in resources and training has equipped our faculty to deliver high-quality instruction and support, providing a world-class education to students.”
The task force dedicated to submitting the application for the designation was led by University Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Linda Moneyham, PhD, RN, FAAN, and included Associate and Assistant Deans, Department Chairs and more than 30 faculty from the various academic programs and missions.
“We are proud of what makes the School unique, and the collective view in our community of interest is that our graduates are well prepared to enter the nursing workforce at both the professional and advanced practice levels,” Moneyham said. “This is evident through our faculty’s commitment to advancing pedagogical experience and demonstrating their expertise in teaching and curriculum development.”
The School’s legacy of excellence is reflected in its academic program rankings by U.S. News & World Report. The School’s BSN program is ranked No. 7, and graduate programs also are consistently highly ranked, with MSN ranked No. 10 and DNP ranked No. 11. Six graduate specialties also are ranked in the top 10.
The School will be formally recognized at the NLN Education Summit in San Antonio, Texas in September.
