Accreditation and History
The NNU Nursing Program has held accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) since 2002, and the University is accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Originally, diplomas were granted in the 1920s in alliance with the Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing. Later in 1974, NNU's nursing program continued its rich history of preparing individuals for the nursing profession while granting degrees in partnership with a local state school.
NNU Nursing Program Timeline
1918—Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Mangum moved to Nampa with a dream to not only start a hospital but also a nurses’ training program with a focus on medical missions.
1920—The Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing opened under the auspices of Northwest Nazarene College and later under The Nazarene Missionary Sanitarium & Institute. Nursing students participated not only in the courses that were offered but also in the life of the college.
1930—The Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing’s three year nursing academic program was fully accredited by the state of Idaho; the program continued to flourish and constructed the Samaritan Hospital which is currently the Fine Arts Building on NNU’s campus.
1954—The Nazarene Missionary Sanitarium & Institute grants its last diploma to nursing graduates. In the aftermath of World War II, insurmountable challenges presented themselves to nursing programs across the nation. The institute, unable to overcome these obstacles with the space and resources available, closed its doors in the early ‘60s and gifted the building to Northwest Nazarene University (College at the time).
1974—Northwest Nazarene College established a cooperative program with Boise State University granting an Associate Degree in Nursing, but discontinued this program in the early 1980s due to a lack of student interest. In the years following, NNU hired a consultant and conducted market research that determined there was a demand for nursing education in the Treasure Valley and nation.
1999—NNU recruited Dr. Judith Stocks, Chair of the Department of Nursing, to develop a baccalaureate nursing program at Northwest Nazarene University.
2002— The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) granted an initial five year accreditation to the NNU nursing program.
2003—Dr. Patricia Kissell was appointed Chair of the Department of Nursing.
2007—A ten year accreditation was granted to NNU by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
2009 - The School of Nursing and Health Science is established and Dr. Patricia Kissell was appointed Dean.
