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About the School

History

The nationally recognized excellence of the School of Nursing reflects a long history of innovation in nursing education. A diploma program for the education of nurses was first offered by the University of California in 1907, when it established the Hospital Training School for Nurses.

In 1917 a five-year curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree was developed on the Berkeley campus in the Department of Hygiene. This program combined academic study with practice in nursing, using the Training School program as the middle years. These two curricula continued until 1934, when the diploma program was discontinued.

Instruction in public health nursing leading to certification was first offered to graduate nurses in 1918 on the Berkeley campus. In 1925, through funds appropriated by the state legislature from the accumulated funds in the State Bureau of Registered Nurses, an additional certificate curriculum in nursing education and nursing service admin­istration was initiated. The Berkeley and San Francisco programs were brought together administratively in 1934. On March 17, 1939, the Regents authorized the establishment of a School of Nursing, the first autonomous school of nursing in any state university. In 1941 the faculty of the School of Nursing achieved full academic status in the University. The School added programs in succeeding years:

• 1949  Master of Science (M.S.)
• 1965  Doctor of Nursing Science (D.N.S.)
• 1980  Articulated BS/MS Program for Registered Nurses
• 1984  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
• 1991  Master's Entry Program in Nursing (MEPN)

In the fall of 1959, all activities of the School of Nursing were consolidated onto the San Francisco campus.

In the 2006-07 academic year, UCSF School of Nursing celebrated its centennial. See the centennial website for details.

Mission 

Nursing care for the healthy and the ill occurs in a dynamic social and professional environment with changing needs for clinical, research, and theoretical expertise. As a leader in health care and nursing progress, the UCSF School of Nursing must anticipate and respond to changing issues and trends and must influence policies and practices in health care.

Within this context, the School of Nursing draws upon the insights and experiences that its students, faculty, and alumni have to offer from their rich and diverse cultural heritage.

Taking advantage of its long history as a part of the University of California, San Francisco health sciences campus, the School will continue to work cooperatively with other health professionals on campus, nationally, and internationally in its search for excellence in teaching, research, practice, and public service.

The School of Nursing's mission comprises three elements:

• Teaching
  • Prepare students from culturally diverse backgrounds to assume leadership roles in nursing clinical practice, administration, teaching, and research.
  • Provide education and research training in the social, behavioral, and biological sciences focused on health, illness, and health care.
• Research
  • Advance knowledge and theory through research.
  • Design and evaluate the organization, financing, and delivery of health care.
  • Generate and test innovative professional educational models.
• Practice
  • Promote and demonstrate excellence in professional nursing practice.
  • Benefit the public, the profession, and the University through active individual and group involvement in service activities.

Principles of Community 

The San Francisco campus of the University of California is dedicated to learning and teaching in the health sciences. As a graduate and professional school campus, UCSF serves society through four primary missions: teaching, research, patient care, and public service. Faculty, staff, and students on the UCSF campus are a composite of many races, creeds, and social affiliations. To achieve campus goals, individuals must work collaboratively with mutual respect and with forbearance.

Several principles of community life are established to guide individual and group actions on the campus. Adherence to these principles is essential to ensure the integrity of the University and to achieve campus goals. UCSF faculty, staff, and students are asked to acknowledge and practice these basic principles of community life:

• We affirm that members of the campus community are valued for their individual qualities and members are encouraged to apply their unique talents in creative and collaborative work.
• We recognize, value, and affirm that social diversity contributes richness to the University community and enhances the quality of campus life for individuals and groups. We take pride in our various achievements and we celebrate our differences.
• We affirm the right of freedom of expression within the UCSF community and also affirm commitment to the highest standards of civility and decency toward all persons. We are committed to creating and maintaining a community where all persons who participate in University activities can work together in an atmosphere free of all forms of abusive or demeaning communication.
• We affirm the individual right of public expression within the bounds of courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. We recognize the right of every individual to think and speak as dictated by personal belief, to express individual ideas, and to state differences with other points of view, limited only by University requirements regarding time, place, and manner.
• We reject acts of discrimination, including those based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, and religious or political beliefs.
• We recognize that UCSF is devoted to public service and we encourage members of the campus community to participate in public service activities in their own communities and recognize their public service efforts in off-campus community settings.
• We affirm that each member of the campus community is expected to work in accord with these principles and to make individual efforts to enhance the quality of campus life for all.

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Revised:  Sept. 2007				Contact: info@nursing.ucsf.edu  ·  © Copyright 2007 University of California Regents, All Rights Reserved.