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The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) is pleased to share the news of its placement in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) rankings as well as other Baylor ranking highlights. LHSON’s undergraduate nursing program moved up eight places to No. 31 in the U.S. News & World Report - 2024 Best Colleges Nationally. 

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) joined together in celebration of its annual LHSON Alumni Reunion. Hosted on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at the LHSON Academic Building, over 75 alums gathered for a heartfelt luncheon and fellowship.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing acknowledges the generosity of AMN Healthcare, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, which has recently established the AMN Healthcare Endowment for Faculty Development in Nursing.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) hosted CompassRN Student Nurse Summer Camp on Friday, July 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. welcoming 30 campers (9th & 10th graders from local schools) plus four adult volunteers. The camp allowed students to hear from nursing faculty, nursing students and tour the LHSON and Clinical Simulation Building. They learned about nursing school programs and admission requirements and observed a few basic nursing skills in the simulation lab. The priority focus was on the campers engagement and interaction so they could gain an understanding of what it looks like to be in nursing school.

In June, Baylor University in Texas announced that its Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) received a $1.5 million donation from the family of the late Louise Herrington Ornelas — or Ms. Lou, as she was widely known on campus — to set up its first endowed chair, which will advocate for mental health training and student mental wellness.

The U.S. Army and Baylor University boast a long and proud history in health-related graduate education. This tradition continues with the five-year renewal of a program at the Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) in cooperation with the United States Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing (USAGPAN).

Baylor University recently announced it has received a $1.5 million gift to establish the first endowed chair in its Louise Herrington School of Nursing. Nursing school Dean Linda Plank said in an interview Baylor will create the Louise Herrington Endowed Chair in Mental Health. Plank said there remains a critical shortage of mental health professionals, and the school has launched a national search to fill the new position. She said the chair “will have a research trajectory,” and will work closely with other disciplines at Baylor, including social work, health sciences and psychology.

The LHSON received great media coverage on Monday, June 19 from reporter, Hannah Hoover with KWKT Fox44 News about the Nursing schools recent gift of $1.5 million.

A $1.5 million gift from the family of Louise Herrington Ornelas to Baylor University will establish the first endowed chair position in the history of the Louise Herrington School of Nursing. The Louise Herrington Endowed Chair in Mental Health will support research and teaching within the nursing school, with a special focus on the areas of mental and behavioral health research, including the need for more mental health professionals.

Supporting the efforts to fuel nursing education growth and help with the tremendous shortage of mental health providers here in Texas and the U.S., in August 2023, the Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing will start a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track within its Doctor of Nursing Practice graduate degree program.

Baylor University today announced a $1.5 million gift establishing the first endowed chair position in the history of the Louise Herrington School of Nursing from the family of the School’s namesake, Louise Herrington Ornelas. The Louise Herrington Endowed Chair in Mental Health will support innovative research and teaching within the Louise Herrington School of Nursing, with a special focus on the areas of mental and behavioral health research, including the need for more mental health professionals.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing is proud to recognize its 2023-2024 nurse faculty level coordinators for LHSON Undergraduate and Graduate Programs.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) congratulates Lori Spies, Ph.D., APRN, FNP-C, FAANP and Marie Lindley, Ph.D., RN, CNE for being recognized by Texas Nurses Association (TNA) as “25 Outstanding Texas Nurses for 2023.” The annual award recognizes nurses who excelled, innovated, and went above and beyond in the previous year. Nurses who have made a difference can be nominated by their peers, community, friends, family or employers for a variety of reasons. Honorees are nurses who create a culture of care, nurses who play a vital role in supporting health and wellness, nurse innovators, community contributors, and frontline heroes.

In the spirit of commemorating the success of our 2023 graduates, Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing hosted its Pinning and Recognition Ceremony on May 12, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. at Sunnyvale First Baptist Church in Sunnyvale, Texas.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing congratulates Shirley Marion, DNP, CNM, APRN, Clinical Assistant Professor, DNP Faculty, on being named the new Midwifery Track Coordinator as of May 1, 2023. Dr. Marion follows in the footsteps of Dr. Jennifer Hensley who served five years at Baylor University LHSON as a revered Clinical Professor and DNP-NM Specialty Track Coordinator.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing congratulates Dr. Jessica Peck, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE, CNL, FAANP, FAAN, Clinical Professor of Nursing at the LHSON, on receiving the Loretta C. Ford Distinguished NP Award from the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing is pleased to share the news of its placement in the U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) 2024 Best Graduate School rankings.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing is pleased to welcome Ms. Jerchel Anderson, EMBA, who has been named Business Officer at Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON). Ms. Anderson is a financial professional with over 20 years of experience as a financial administrator and accountant. She began at the LHSON on March 20, 2023.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) has received a five-year renewal of its program in cooperation with the United States Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing (USAGPAN).

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing congratulates Brandy Brown, DNP, APRN, GNP-BC on her appointment as Associate Dean for the Pre-Licensure Program and Clinical Assistant Professor. As Dr. Brown transitions to the LHSON Leadership team, Kristi Calloway, PhD, RN, CNE, will become the second coordinator for the DABSN track. In addition, the LHSON is pleased to announce that Dr. Amy Anderson, DNP, RN, CNE, FAAN has accepted the appointment of Global Initiatives Coordinator for LHSON. We are also happy to welcome Kristen Westmoreland, MSN, RNC-NIC as a new RN Simulation Educator.

Baylor University announced the recipients of the 2023 Baylor Alumni Awards, which honor individuals who embody the distinctive mission of the University and their remarkable achievements. The Merrie Beckham Alumni By Choice of the Year, is presented to an individual who was previously nominated and selected as an Alumni By Choice recipient and who has achieved distinction through exceptional contribution to Baylor’s international, national, state or community welfare. The 2023 honor is awarded to Marie E. Chiles of Dallas.

In the spirit of commemorating the success of our 2022 graduates, Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing hosted its Pinning and Recognition Ceremony on December 16, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. at Sunnyvale First Baptist Church in Sunnyvale, Texas.

Bears Helping Hearts (BHH), a student organization at the Louise Herrington School of Nursing, is open to any nursing students interested in learning about congenital heart disease and defects. Until Dec. 6, BHH and the Children’s Heart Foundation are hosting a toy drive for Medical City Children’s Hospital, specifically for children in congenital heart units.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing is deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of its Associate Dean for the Pre-Licensure Program and Clinical Assistant Professor Karen Cotter, Ph.D., RN, CNE.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing joined together in celebration of its annual LHSON Alumni Reunion. Hosted on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at the Academic Building, over 75 alums gathered for a luncheon and fellowship and shopping.

To increase awareness among the public of the importance of simulation to healthcare, the fourth annual global Healthcare Simulation Week is September 13-16, 2022, sponsored by Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). Healthcare Simulation Week celebrates professionals who use healthcare simulation to improve the safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of healthcare delivery.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing is pleased to share the news of its placement in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report rankings as well as other Baylor ranking highlights. LHSON’s undergraduate nursing program is now at No. 39 in the U.S. News national rankings, moving up from No. 58. Additionally, for the 11th time, Baylor University has attained elite Honor Roll status as a 2022 Great Colleges to Work For, according to a new survey by The Great Colleges to Work For program.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing in partnership with Austin Street Center hosted a “Living Your Best Life” Health Fair on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The health fair was hosted at Austin Street Center for Community Engagement, 1717 Jeffries, St., Dallas, TX 75226.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing is pleased to welcome four new Associate Deans to take the helm in Fall 2022 including: Dr. Lisa Jones, Associate Dean for the Pre-Licensure Programs; Dr. Deborah Petty, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Dr. Deborah Shirey and Dr. Stacia Hays, Associate Deans for the Online Graduate Programs.

The Louise Herrington School of Nursing’s Dr. Shelby Garner, PhD, RN, CNE, Associate Professor, has been selected for induction as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing for her significant contributions in advancing the science of global health and building healthcare simulation capacity in India.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing is pleased to host the 12th Annual SimGHOSTS USA 2022, August 2 - 5, 2022. Approximately 250 simulation professionals will be attending from across the globe (Canada, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, New Zealand, etc.) and 39 of the 50 United States. The theme for this year’s conference is, Embracing Connection: Creativity and Community in a Changing World.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing is pleased to welcome four new staff members to LHSON Simulation including: Shopha Tserotas, Melissa Malone, Amanda Callahan and Chloe Silcox.

Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) is proud to have twenty-three nurses recognized over the years as DFW Great 100 Nurses. For 2022, we congratulate Jessica L. Peck, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE, CNL, FAANP, FAAN, Clinical Professor and Jane Price, MSN, RN, CNE, Clinical Assistant Professor.

In the spirit of commemorating the success of our 2022 graduates, Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) hosted its Pinning and Recognition Ceremony on May 13, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. at Sunnyvale First Baptist Church in Sunnyvale, Texas.

On Saturday, April 30, 2022, The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON), hosted 600 guests at The Dallas Renaissance for its 10th and final Going for the Gold Gala, raising over $1 million. Since the inaugural gala in 2014, the Gala has become a transformational fundraising event providing critical resources for the nursing school and its students.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) is pleased to welcome Keith Wickliffe, EdD as the new Director of Student Services.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) is pleased to welcome Baylor alum, Sarah Beth Rogers, as the new Events Coordinator. Her responsibilities include coordination of all LHSON events through collaboration with volunteers, faculty, students and community vendors to conceptualize, plan and implement internal and external events.

On Monday, February 28, 2022, Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) collaborated with UT Southwestern Medical Center Emergency Medicine and Hiroshima University (Japan) to host, “COVID-19 and Public Health System Resilience Workshop” with facilitators, Drs. Andrew Stricklin, UTSW and Benjamin Ryan, Baylor University. The workshop is part of a broader research project titled, “Systematically Identifying and Evaluating Strategies for Strengthening Community Resilience,” funded by the World Health Organization (WHO) which has Baylor University and Hiroshima University working in partnership with colleagues to conduct workshops in six countries that include: Australia, Bangladesh, Japan, Slovenia, Turkey and the United States.

Baylor FastBacc nursing students went outside of the requirements for their community clinical to create a cookbook for a group of women in a homeless shelter.

Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) went back to in-person instruction on Thursday, January 20 after a power outage caused by a transformer explosion. On Tuesday, January 18, the LHSON had to go fully online for the first two days of the spring semester after a transformer exploded that morning and resulted in the entire building running out of power.

The LHSON celebrates the USAID Mission projects in India with the inauguration of two centres: Women and Children’s Healthcare and Research Centre and the Living and Learning Centre with Smart Classrooms.

Baylor University today announced a gift of $1.5 million from the Deerbrook Charitable Trust of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and Harris and Anne Clark of Dallas to establish the Louise Herrington School of Nursing’s (LHSON) first endowed faculty position. The Harris and Anne Clark FastBacc Endowed Professorship will provide permanent, enduring support for the FastBacc program, a 12-month accelerated post-baccalaureate Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

The LHSON kicked off the Christmas holiday season on Monday in the lobby of the Academic Building with a festive tree lighting ceremony complete with Christmas carols, hot chocolate for all and a food truck outside to grab lunch. On the 3rd floor the faculty and staff were treated to homemade hot apple cider and cookies provided by Wendy Craver and Elizabeth Caverley . . . a longtime holiday tradition they share each year. On the 4th floor, students were introduced to a new "Bears Den" for their R&R enjoyment including ping pong, foosball, oversized bean bag chairs and other fun games.

Pediatric nurses reported a deep toll on themselves, their young patients and the families of both during the first year of the pandemic, revealing deep rifts in the health care system, according to a Baylor University researcher. Click to read more about the interview with Dr. Jessica Peck.

Baylor alumna Dr. Linda Plank has been named dean of the Louise Herrington School of Nursing as of last spring. Plank began her nursing career at Baylor University, graduating as part of the class of 1977. Growing up, she said she did not have nursing role models nor a detailed career path, relying instead on God’s plan to lead her talents at the right place and time. Plank’s open mindset enabled her to embrace, fulfill and execute opportunities that presently have appointed her to effectively mentor future nurses of Baylor.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing is pleased to announce Marie K. Lindley, PhD, RN, CNE, has been named the new Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Clinical Associate Professor. Dr. Marie Lindley has been a registered nurse for over 25 years and has taught nursing for over ten years at the undergraduate and graduate level. She began at Baylor University in January 2016. Specializing in holistic health assessment and transition to practice, she teaches courses online and on-campus, as well as in the clinical and simulation labs. Her teaching is informed by many years of professional experience practicing as an ER nurse, nurse practitioner in acute care, and as a nurse leader, including time as acting co-CNO.

Pediatric advance practice registered nurses (APRN) are facing multifocal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the most difficult challenge being mental health struggles experienced by themselves and their families, according to a new study led by Jessica Peck, DNP, clinical professor at Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing.

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) is pleased to welcome Alona D. Angosta, PhD, APRN, FNP-C, FAAN, as the new Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship and tenured professor. Dr. Angosta has worked in numerous settings as a clinician, researcher, and educator. She has more than 15 years’ experience in academia and has taught at the graduate and undergraduate levels. She has also received numerous recognitions for her substantial contributions in advancing and transforming nursing such as being named a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and a recipient of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Advocate State Award for Excellence.

On Thursday, September 23, 2021, Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing participated for the ninth consecutive year in Communities Foundation of Texas’ annual North Texas Giving Day, designed to empower every person to give back to their community by supporting local nonprofits and causes. Online donations were made from 6 a.m. to midnight on North Texas Giving Day to nonprofits listed on www.NorthTexasGivingDay.org.

COVID-19 has further highlighted need for nurses who fill a critical care role in a public health crisis. Dr. Linda Plank is a 30-year nursing veteran and longtime educator who was named Dean of Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) this spring. In this Baylor Connections, Dr. Plank discusses the impact of the pandemic on nursing and nursing education, examines the growth of Baylor nursing and shares what makes LHSON distinct in higher education.