Saint Louis University has been a national leader in nursing education since 1928. We have a national reputation for innovative and pioneering bachelor's, master's, post-master's nurse practitioner certificate and doctoral (D.N.P. and Ph.D.) programs.
SLU’s Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing programs are nationally recognized for their innovative and comprehensive curricula. Throughout the years, the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing's faculty has played a pivotal role in advancing the growing field of nursing research.
Welcome to the website of the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing at Saint Louis
University, a national leader in nursing education since 1928. Our students have the
great opportunity to learn from leading educators, practitioners, and researchers
in nursing, as well as from experts in medicine and related health disciplines. In
various settings, from the classroom and virtual learning spaces to our simulation
laboratory to external practice settings, including hospitals, clinics, agencies,
and communities, students gain first-hand experience with nursing and health care.
We partner with a wealth of excellent health care sites in St. Louis, surrounding
areas, and the nation. These include, but are not limited to, SSM Health Saint Louis
University Hospital, SSM Health, BJC HealthCare, Mercy Health, and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Our students
study the science and art of nursing, both its theoretical and clinical domains, as
well as participate in health sciences interprofessional education.
Situated within the larger context of Saint Louis University with its Jesuit and Catholic
mission, a distinguishing feature of our education is the embodiment of Cura Personalis,
or care for the whole person, including the person’s mind, body, heart, and spirit.
Cura Personalis grounds everything we do as a caring community. We educate knowledgeable nursing leaders as men and women for others who will lead successful,
ethical, and meaningful lives.
Nursing is the most trusted profession and nurses’ knowledgeable, compassionate care
is needed worldwide to promote health, well-being, healing and the relief of suffering.
We, in the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing, are well-positioned to help students
meet this worldwide need. We offer a scientific and values-based education for the
generalist and advanced practice nurse and for Ph.D.-prepared nurse scientists who will
shape the discovery and generation of nursing knowledge.
We are passionate about nursing and the excellent education we offer. Thank you for
visiting our site. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Danny G. Willis, D.N.S., RN, PMHCNS-BC, CNE, FAAN
Dean and Professor
The vision of the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing is to pioneer innovation and advance equity through our mission-driven, diverse, inclusive, well-being-focused environment of excellence in teaching, research, practice, and service.
The mission of the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing is the education of “the whole person” - mind, body, heart, and spirit within a diverse and technological society.
The School of Nursing, an integral unit of Saint Louis University, seeks to fulfill
its mission of education through teaching, research, practice, and service in ways
consistent with the Catholic, Jesuit values of the University. The School of Nursing
acts responsibly by setting priorities and exercising stewardship to ensure the best
use of its resources.
The School, through the teaching component of the mission, prepares diverse students
at the baccalaureate, master's, post-master's, and doctoral levels for professional
nursing practice and interprofessional collaboration to care of the whole person,
the “cura personalis”. The School creates an inclusive student-centered environment
that recognizes and actively addresses the diverse needs and well-being of individuals
and an academic climate of in-person and online learning that promotes the spirit
of inquiry among faculty and students.
The School, through the research component of the mission, advances the active engagement
of faculty and the involvement of students in the scholarly process of inquiry and
discovery, dissemination, and translation of knowledge. The School promotes interprofessional
collaboration in the conduct of research in order to advance health care.
The School, through the service/practice component of the mission, promotes health
care within the University and the local, regional, and national communities. The
School assumes a leadership role in developing nursing as a discipline and profession
by providing expertise in nursing education, practice, and research to these communities.
- 1971: SLU becomes the first university in the country to offer an accelerated B.S.N. program for qualified students seeking a fast-track bachelor’s degree in nursing.
- 1990: SLU offers the first Ph.D. in nursing in Missouri.
- 1997: The first web-based distance learning program at SLU is offered through the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing.
- 2000: SLU begins offering Missouri’s first totally online Master of Science in Nursing - Nurse Practitioner degree.
- 2003: We are the first in the nation to offer an online certificate program that prepares nurses to assume a leadership role in case of a natural disaster or terror attack.
- 2006: SLU develops the nation’s first interprofessional core curriculum, which teaches nursing students the best ways to work closely with other health care providers.
- 2008: We are the first in the St. Louis area to offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree, a doctoral degree for advanced practice nurses that focuses on patient care.
- 2010: SLU begins offering a 21-month direct entry accelerated M.S.N. program.
- 2015: SLU begins offering a Master of Science in Nursing - Clinical Nurse Leader program.
- 2018: SLU School of Nursing celebrates its 90th year.