The Southern University School of Nursing (SUSON) just made history by being voted the best nursing program in the nation.
The HBCU, which has been shaping healthcare professionals for over 40 years, was voted #1 during Nurse.org’s annual Best of Nursing Awards on January 13. Nurse.org is a platform dedicated to supporting and empowering nursing professionals and students in the US.
Other finalists included Emory University School of Nursing, Florida State University College of Nursing, and the University of Washington School of Nursing.
“Winning this award is more than just recognition for SUSON; it’s a win for the entire Jaguar Nation,” said Dr. Sandra Brown, Dean of Nursing and Allied Health, in an interview with WAFB.
“We extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who voted and supported this moment of recognition. Together, we have demonstrated the remarkable power, passion, and pride of the Jaguar Nation.”
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This recognition comes a year after SUSON hit another major milestone by becoming the top school for Black male nurses. Just last fall, the HBCU welcomed the largest class of Black male nursing students in the country, admitting 33 students in a single semester.
Recognizing this achievement, the American Nursing Foundation awarded the cohort a $350,000 grant through its Diversity Nursing Research through Support of Minority Institutions Initiative.
The funding aims to increase the number of minority nurse researchers and expand the diversity of subjects and perspectives in the nursing field.
“Black men can do other things besides football and basketball, or being incarcerated in places like prison, so this is seen as an option that they can have,” said John Babin, a nursing student from the HBCU.
“Public trust begins with public health. So, you have to have individuals who are culturally diverse to be able to relate and impact the outcomes of the patients they serve,” Sandra Brown added.
