Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago Nursing Programs

Student Demographics

• 20 Average Age
• 31% Men
• 69% Women
• 0% Veterans
• 76% White
• 12% Hispanic
• 10% Black
• 5% Asian
• 11,576 Undergraduate Students
• 4,910 Graduate Students

Loyola University Chicago, a private, non-profit, American Catholic research university founded in 1870, is a Jesuit Catholic university that focuses on the Roman Catholic tradition. It is part of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

In 1935, Loyola's Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing (MNSON) became the first collegiate nursing school in Illinois to offer the BSN. The School of Nursing provides students with exceptional educational opportunities within the Chicagoland area as well as opportunities abroad in England, Rome, and Belize.

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

This is for incoming freshman that hold a high school diploma.

Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)

This program is for those who hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree.

RN-BSN

The program is designed for licensed, professional nurses who wish to complete their BSN in a 100% online program.

Graduate

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

This program is for students with a BSN and RN License.

NP Specialty Tracks

• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner with Emergency Nurse Subspecialty
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner with Oncology Specialty
• Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

The programs are not offered completely online, but incorporate a blended format offering online and face-to-face courses. Clinical rotations are done in the Chicagoland area. Students are required to possess an RN license in the state of Illinois. 2,000 hours of recent RN nursing experience is required prior to beginning the first practicum.

CNS Specialty Tracks

• Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Adult Gerontology CNS with Oncology Specialty
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist

‌The Adult Gerontology CNS with Oncology Specialty program is an online format. Clinical placements can be arranged in the student's geographical area.

The Adult-Gerontology CNS and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care CNS programs are offered in the blended format. Clinical placements are in the Chicagoland area and students must hold an RN license in the state of Illinois. As above, 2,000 hours of recent RN experience is required prior to clinical practicum.

Post-Baccalaureate and Post-Master's Certificate Programs

• Oncology Nursing
• Healthcare Informatics
• Outcomes Performance Management
• Infection Prevention

RN-MSN

This program is for Associate's Degree or Diploma-prepared nurses.

Post-Graduate APRN (NP &CNS) Certificate Programs

Programs are available for those who hold a master's degree and desire to take the NP or CNS national certification examination(s).

• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner with Emergency Subspecialty
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist with Oncology Specialty

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Loyola's Doctor of Nursing Practice program is designed as a two-year, post-MSN cohort program.  Students holding Master's degrees in other fields will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Most courses are offered primarily online with the exception of a required 2-3 day class held once each semester at the Maywood, Illinois campus.

DNP Specialty Tracks

The Healthcare Quality Using Education in Safety & Technology (H-QUEST) DNP track is a specialty post-Master's entry program designed to prepare nurses to assume leadership roles in healthcare organizations and community settings with a focus on quality and safety.  Students in this track have two options of study: Outcomes Performance Management or Healthcare Informatics. 

The Infection Prevention DNP track is designed as a post-BSN entry DNP and can be completed in 71 semester hours. Graduates will have the knowledge and skills to assume system-wide leadership as Infection Preventionists.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The traditional PhD program is offered on campus one weekend each month during the course of the semester.  Between each weekend class meeting a 1 to 2 hour online, synchronous class is held.

Full- or part-time study is possible. Students entering post-baccalaureate must complete the program (including dissertation) within eight years from the date of initial matriculation. 

Students entering with a master's degree must complete the program (including dissertation) within six years from the date of initial matriculation.

Most courses are held at the Lake Shore campus or the Health Sciences campus in Maywood.

Accreditation

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited the baccalaureate degree in nursing, the master's degree in nursing, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.

The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).