University of Kansas School of Nursing

09/03/2026

KU’s dedication to solving Kansas’ rural healthcare crisis spans distances and decades. The KU School of Nursing-Salina campus was created as part of that commitment to address the gap and help improve the health of communities in Kansas.

Nursing students on our Salina campus have the unique opportunity to experience quality clinical training in a rural setting, exposing them to the values of living and working in smaller communities.

"The School of Nursing at the University of Kansas is making a tremendous impact. Standing up this facility and making a mission to create rural nurses — there is no model like this," said Karen Weis, Ph.D., RNC-OB, FAAN, dean of KU School of Nursing-Salina and Christine A. Hartley Rural Health Nursing Endowed Professor.

"That's why I'm so committed to it, because we're producing bachelor's-prepared nurses that are committed to rural, that are now prepared to even get advanced degrees. This is the beginning. This is the foundation."

Explore create.ku.edu/rural-health to see how KU School of Nursing is a part of KU's bigger plan to help Kansans get better access, better treatments and better outcomes.

The University of Kansas is dedicated to improving health in rural communities across Kansas and beyond.

09/02/2026

Congratulations to Cui Wang, a recent graduate of KU School of Nursing's Family Nurse Practitioner program, for her acceptance into the VA Nurse Practitioner Residency Program. This achievement reflects Cui's outstanding dedication to veteran-centered care and also highlights the strong academic–clinical partnership between KU School of Nursing and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

"During my DNP program at KU, I had the opportunity to explore various areas of practice through specialty rotations and independent study," said Cui. "These experiences were instrumental in helping me find my clinical focus and define my path as a nurse practitioner. That diverse clinical exposure also expanded my knowledge base, built my confidence, and prepared me to transition into independent practice."

Together, KU and the Veterans Health Administration prepare confident, competent and compassionate nurse practitioners who are ready to meet the complex needs of veterans. Programs like the Kansas City VA Nurse Practitioner Residency and the VA Fellowship support novice nurse practitioners as they grow into independent providers grounded in evidence-based practice, interprofessional learning and exceptional clinical mentorship.

KU School of Nursing is proud to celebrate our graduates and an exciting milestone in our ongoing collaboration with the Veterans Health Administration!

09/01/2026

Last month, we welcomed 190 BSN students at Dedication to the Profession ceremonies on our campuses in Kansas City and Salina. Students heard from this year's Alumni Award winners, received KU Nursing jackets and recited the dedication oath.

Congratulations and welcome, Class of 2028!
🔵 Learn more about the event: https://bit.ly/3SdLg4Z
🔵 Watch the recording of the Kansas City ceremony: https://bit.ly/4zNKe0f

08/24/2026

Welcome, Class of 2028! 💙 Last week, KU School of Nursing hosted Dedication to the Profession ceremonies in Kansas City and Salina where students recited their professional oath and donned KU Nursing jackets, signifying the start of their nursing education journey. A total of 190 future nurses make up the incoming class of Bachelor of Science in Nursing students.

The Kansas City ceremony also featured the KU Nursing Alumni Awards and included a panel discussion with the honorees who shared their perspectives and advice with the students.

08/20/2026

New nursing students have been busy with orientation activities on our Kansas City and Salina campuses this week. Students met with faculty, staff and student ambassadors, learned about student activities, explored the campuses and took a deep dive into topics like time management, well-being strategies and much more.

We will officially welcome the Class of 2028 at tomorrow's Dedication to the Profession event. Join us online at 1 p.m. CST: https://bit.ly/4cyW5oX

08/19/2026

At 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21, KU School of Nursing will host the Dedication to the Profession and Alumni Awards Ceremony — an opportunity to welcome the Class of 2028 and recognize distinguished alumni.

The combined event brings together our newest nursing students with our experienced alumni to honor the shared values, dedication and excellence of our profession. During the ceremony, we will recognize the outstanding achievements of this year's awardees:

🔹Distinguished Alumni: Barb Geiger, BSN, RN
🔹Early Career Alumni: Jenna Newkirk, BSN, RN
🔹Honorary Alumni: Barbara Demarest

Join the momentous event virtually: https://bit.ly/4cyW5oX
And learn more about this year's honorees: https://bit.ly/43G2s63

📷: 2026 Alumni Awardees

08/18/2026

KU School of Nursing alumna Clare Fox, DNP '22, APRN, PMHNP-BC, PMGT-BC, was featured on The University of Kansas Health System's Take Five show for work she started during her Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Her project, Reducing Violence Against Nurses through the Implementation of a Violence Risk Assessment Tool, is now being used to support nurses' workplace safety.

"It’s been incredibly rewarding to have my DNP project implemented and actively used in my workplace," said Dr. Fox. "Workplace violence in healthcare has serious consequences for both employees and patients, so addressing it in a meaningful way is essential. The University of Kansas Health System has been intentional about prioritizing prevention efforts that support a culture of respect, safety and accountability."

Learn more about Dr. Fox in this Q&A, where she provides insights into her project and shares how KU's DNP program prepared her for her role as a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner:

Workplace safety program developed during KU Doctor of Nursing Practice program recently featured by The University of Kansas Health System.

08/13/2026

A $1.6 million grant from the Bedford Falls Foundation – DAF is helping fund the education of 37 KU School of Nursing BSN students. The number is slated to grow to approximately 170 students over four years.

In the latest edition of the KU Nursing Magazine, hear from three of our first Conway Scholars, as they share their paths to nursing and the impact of the scholarship: https://bit.ly/4z146MX

08/12/2026

Be part of the conversation! 📢 Join KU School of Nursing for our first town hall on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 1 p.m. CST. During the one-hour virtual event, participants will hear from Dean Giddens, learn about our curriculum changes and competency-based education from a panel discussion and have their questions answered in a Q&A session.

↳ Submit your questions online for consideration before the event: https://bit.ly/4cBCRir
↳ Join the town hall via Zoom:
Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
https://kumc-edu.zoom.us/j/83523241064?pwd=yBoeEaYlmgMsp9Pc6nlaALAf9belUk.1
Meeting ID: 835 2324 1064
Passcode: 943887

Join via audio:
+1 312 626 6799 US
Webinar ID: 835 2324 1064
Passcode: 943887

08/07/2026

A nurse gerontologist and professor at KU School of Nursing, Kristi Williams, Ph.D., FAAN, is an international-award winning researcher whose research on “elderspeak,” a form of communication similar to baby talk used by many nurses and other providers to address older adults, has changed the world.

Dr. Williams’ work demonstrated how an infantilizing communication style negatively affects patient outcomes and behavior. Through her training program, staff at nursing homes and other healthcare settings can learn how to use person-centered communication instead.

Learn more about Dr. Williams and how she is challenging society to think differently about aging and dementia in the latest edition of the KU Nursing Magazine: https://bit.ly/4fAmQeK