UW-Green Bay Nursing Program Celebrates 30th Anniversary

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Professional Program in Nursing is celebrating its 30^th year of offering Registered Nurses (RN) a baccalaureate completion program.  The UW-Green Bay RN to BSN program was approved by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin system in 1980. Professor Agnes Janoscrat was named the first Chairperson and Dr. Mimi Kubsch was hired to plan and implement the program.  (Dr. Kubsch has been the “face and hands” of the program for many years and remains on the faculty today.) Classes began in the fall of 1981. 

The program received national accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission in 1987 and has been subsequently accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.  In 1995, in collaboration with University of Wisconsin (UW) Nursing Programs in Madison, Milwaukee, Oshkosh and Eau Claire, the program began an online track for RNs across Wisconsin now known as BSN@HOME.  This was followed by the development of the BSN-LINC track in 2000 through which RNs from across the United States can complete their BSN online from UW-Green Bay.  In 2007, funding was obtained to extend the program’s reach to northern areas of the state resulting in classes offered in Rhinelander and Marinette.  That same year, a 5 year federal grant was awarded to the 5 UW nursing programs to enhance technology in nursing education.  The grant culminated in 2011 with an “E-Learning in Nursing” conference hosted by UW-Green Bay.  2011 also was the year in which the Professional Program in Nursing graduated its 1000^th BSN prepared nurse and planning for a Masters of Science in Nursing program began. (Planning for the MSN in Leadership & Management in Health Systems is ongoing.)  Dr. Derryl Block, the current Chairperson, leads a department of 11 faculty and staff.  The program has 36 Associate Degree Campus Partners from 24 states across the US. 

Those visiting the Professional Program in Nursing Office located on the 3^rd Floor of Rose Hall (Suite 325) on the beautiful UW-Green Bay campus can view the “History Wall”, a recent addition detailing more of the program’s highlights.  Additionally, the program is posting a retrospective video and asking alumni and friends for their memories. The piece by student marketing assistant Ariel Weishoff is online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-jWMRw3V4w.

A highlight of the 30^th Anniversary celebration is an April webinar for alumni and students of the program.  The webinar, “Caring Theory”, will be presented by internationally recognized nursing scholar Jean Watson in honor of the program’s anniversary.  Dr. Watson is Distinguished Professor of Nursing and holds an Endowed Chair in Caring Science at the University of Colorado Denver and Anschutz Medical Center Campus. She is founder of the original Center for Human Caring in Colorado and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.  She is a widely published author and recipient of several awards and honors and holds six (6) Honorary Doctoral Degrees, including 3 International Honorary Doctorates.  

For more information about the Professional Program in Nursing history, the 30^th Anniversary activities or about the program in general, please email nursing@uwgb.edu .