Richard Wever juggles marriage, multiple jobs and school, all while working toward a Master of Science degree in Nursing at USI.

The distance education student from Jacksonville, Florida said he enjoys USI’s graduate nursing program because of its flexibility.

A prospective nursing educator, Wever said USI’s program stands out among others because they are concerned with improving the future of health care in the country.

The U.S. News and World Report ranked USI’s graduate Master of Science in Nursing program 78th out of 1,900 programs across the country, climbing 48 spots from 2013. USI’s online MSN program was also ranked 36th in January by News and World Report.

For many years, USI’s graduate nursing program has boasted a 100 percent passing rate on the National Certification Exam.

“We have a very strong reputation and when individuals are looking for nurse practitioners, educators or leaders, they know that they have been prepared to enter into their field,” said Ann White, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions.

Through its data, the university demonstrated the quality of its program to the News and World Report to ensure they met the needs of healthcare through its graduate program, White said.

The program, however, has reached capacity and within the past year has turned away 100 “fully qualified” students who meet the admission criteria.

When offering a graduate program in nursing, the accrediting bodies the program must abide by can be difficult to meet at times because there are many high standards for the faculty and their qualifications, White said.

Although the program is in a good position, she said making sure there are qualified faculty is a challenge.

“All of our faculty that teach in our programs are doctorally prepared,” she said. “They all have credentials in the specialty they teach in, and they all hold a national certification.”

Although the program is offered through distance education, the students complete their clinicals in the area where they are from, White said.

The program prepares individuals to achieve the certification needed to practice, White said.

“But I think the other piece that is critically important is that we have a lot of clinical hours in our nurse practitioner and our specialty areas because this is a hands-on type of profession,” she said.

White said clinicals prepares students for what’s to come.

“A student can sit in a classroom and learn about drugs and physical assessment, but what students need is to get in the trenches and apply what they have learned,” she said.

Because the program is at capacity, White does not see the program growing much. However, the program will continue to meet its level of excellence and produce quality graduates so they can become a contributing member to the workforce, White said.

Wever said future students of the program should make sure they are self-motivated and disciplined.

“The program really challenges and tests you to see what you are made off,” Wever said. “But I feel like USI has prepared me for the workforce successfully.”