St. Edward’s University Launches First-Ever Nursing Programs Meeting Workforce Needs

AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward’s University will launch our first of three exceptional nursing programs beginning Fall 2023 to meet the ongoing need for healthcare professionals across the country. Under the leadership of Dr. Donna Beuk, the Founding Director of Nursing, our new programs provide training and education that prepares nurses for careers offering compassionate and justice-oriented health care for all.

The launch of these new programs plays a vital role in the university’s health sciences initiative outlined in the Strategic Plan 2027. Graduates of our nursing programs will be able to address issues of disparity, justice and equity within the healthcare field which is a direct tie to our mission.

“Texas is the state with the second-most critical need for compassionate and bilingual nurses, and this need continues to grow. By answering the call, high-quality nursing programs like the ones we will offer at St. Edward’s are not only key to meeting this surging workforce demand, but necessary for developing practicing and aspiring nurses to have the educational foundation and mission-driven support they need to best serve their community,” said Montserrat Fuentes, president of      St. Edward’s University.  

The Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program offers flexibility for practicing nurses enrolled at St. Edward’s University through online, in-person and hybrid class options. Research-based projects, leadership training and courses led by experienced nursing professionals will help our RN to BSN students gain additional expertise, skills and perspectives needed to be an effective leader in healthcare. The Bachelor of Arts in Biology, Pre-Nursing Track and Bachelor of Science in Biology, Health Professions Track are designed for traditional undergraduate students who wish to pursue a nursing degree. These tracks are an excellent opportunity to complete many of the prerequisite studies that provide a pathway for students to earn their BS in Nursing.

“We aim to educate nurses with a passion to address health inequities and disparities across communities and to be a positive impact on the lives of those they care for,” said Beuk. “We will train nurses who will exhibit supportive leadership, advocate for their patients, themselves and other nursing colleagues by making their voices heard.”

In addition to launching its nursing programs, St. Edward's began offering a certificate program to address challenges of health equity for Latino and Latinx populations in Fall 2022. The Advanced Spanish for Health and Helping Professions Certificate — offered through the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures for the School of Arts and Humanities — prepares students proficient in Spanish/English and second-language learners for health-related professions that require specific, technical vocabulary and cultural knowledge.

About St. Edward’s University

St. Edward’s University is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,600 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 55 undergraduate and 8 graduate programs. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 20 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2022-2023 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s remains in the list of top 10 Best Regional Universities in the West for the 4th consecutive year.