Johns Hopkins School of Nursing graduates its final baccalaureate class

The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing celebrated its last class receiving a bachelor of science degree with a major in nursing at the school's degree completion ceremony last week. It marked the end of 30 years offering the degree and celebrated the more than 5,000 graduates who have walked the stage before to begin their journey as baccalaureate-prepared nurses.

"This class will forever hold a special place in our school's history," said Patricia Davidson, dean of the School of Nursing. "These students, just as the many who have preceded them, have demonstrated a passion for learning, a perseverance to achieve, and a commitment to the excellence that will propel their success as future nurses."

Last fall, the School of Nursing began the transition to an all-graduate school when it welcomed its first class of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): Entry into Nursing Practice program. The new option, which gives students with a bachelor's degree in another discipline the opportunity to earn a master's degree in nursing, was a major change in the school's offerings. It reflected the growing need for nurses who can lead advanced practice care and responded to the Institute of Medicine's call for higher education among nurses.