About Graduate Nursing


Welcome from Chair Lori Rhudy

On behalf of the faculty and staff, I welcome you to Winona State University’s Department of Graduate Nursing. Whether you are a prospective or current student or you are an esteemed alumni, we welcome you to our community of learners.

Never has the role of nurses in our nation’s healthcare been so prominently displayed. It is also a time of unprecedented innovation. WSU’s Graduate Nursing faculty and staff are proud of our excellent programs and our ability to provide graduate courses that can help meet a variety of professional goals and various learning styles and needs.

The mission of the Department of Graduate Nursing is to prepare not only graduate nursing students to lead the transformation of nursing and healthcare, but also nurse leaders, educators, and advanced practitioners for the highest level of nursing practice and improve the world through all aspects of health and well-being.

WSU faculty value our relationships and interactions with students. We regularly engage in synchronous (i.e. scheduled day and time) and asynchronous (i.e. online at your own schedule) learning through our D2L online learning management tool. Many courses offer options for in-person or distance attendance using our Zoom platform.

Required immersive, hands-on learning experiences are provided on campus in Rochester, Minnesota, for students in select advanced practice and nursing education roles. These experiences occur in simulation and health assessment laboratories. Clinical experiences are provided at a number of sites.

The Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has accredited WSU’s baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in Nursing through June 2023. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and the Post-Graduate Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) certificate programs are accredited through June 2030.

We are committed to the values of:

  • Effective and inspirational leadership
  • Clinical relevance and excellence
  • Critical and innovative thinking
  • Academic rigor
  • Integrity
  • Engaged learning
  • Student success
  • Inclusive excellence
  • Stewardship of resources
  • Authentic and professional relationships

The Department of Graduate Nursing faculty have identified goals (PDF) that drive improvement and help us demonstrate these values.

WSU is very proud of the contributions of our Graduate Nursing programs, students, alumni, faculty, and staff. We welcome you to WSU and wish you success in your professional and academic pursuits.


Sincerely,
Lori M. Rhudy, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, CNRN
Chair, Department of Graduate Nursing
Winona State University