All Students: School Overview - History of the School

All Students: School Overview - History of the School

The University of Washington first offered nursing courses in 1918. In 1929, the newly built King County Harborview Hospital and the University established a nursing school bringing an academic basis to nursing education through a 4-year nursing program. This integrated four-year nursing program was later expanded to incorporate two hospital diploma programs, Swedish Hospital (1946) and Virginia Mason Hospital (1950). In 1945, the School of Nursing became an autonomous unit of the University of Washington, together with the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine and Pharmacy. The four schools became the Division of Health Sciences within the University structure in 1946. Programs leading to the Master of Arts and Master of Nursing were established in 1937, and the Ph.D. in Nursing Science was authorized by the Board of Regents in 1978. In 1982, the School was authorized to change the Master of Arts to the Master of Science.

Please visit the History page in the About the School section for an interactive timeline and streaming video clips of interviews with former deans, faculty and the full version of "Mrs. Reynolds Needs a Nurse".

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