Prepare for clinical excellence
The Susan S. Morrison School of Nursing prepares highly skilled professional nurses who are culturally responsive, practice clinical excellence with ingenuity, and proactively improve whole-person healing to advance health equity and social justice.
Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the Susan S. Morrison School of Nursing embraces academic excellence through fostering a caring culture during students’ preparation for entry into professional Registered Nurse practice. Our graduates will partner with others, serving as culturally responsive leaders who value intellectual inquiry to act wisely in the provision of ethical and compassionate whole-person and whole-community care that promotes human flourishing. They will provide this care with ingenuity, dignity, and respect for diverse populations to advance health equity and social justice.
This 20-month degree program combines classes in nursing and related healthcare topics. 570 clinical hours are required. We have a holistic admissions process.
Informed by Catholic social teaching, the University of St. Thomas Morrison Family College of Health educates health providers and leaders to skillfully, compassionately, and collaboratively advance the physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being of individuals, families and communities.
Meet the Executive Director
Dr. Annette Hines brings over 40 years of nursing experience to St. Thomas. Dr. Hines previously served as a faculty member with Queens University of Charlotte since 2000. She was also a nurse scientist at Novant Health, served as chair for graduate studies for five years and as director of the Presbyterian School of Nursing for five years. Her research interests include health promotion in families with a child with chronic illness, asthma as a health disparity, and teaching strategies in classroom and clinical settings.
Our innovative nursing iPad initiative enhances the educational experience for students and helps improve educational equity through technology. See how it works.
Assistant Director of Nursing Simulation Education
Visiting Assistant Professor
Dr. Pirsch completed her PhD in nursing from the University of Minnesota, and her dissertation focused on critical consciousness in public health nurses. Dr. Pirsch’s practice specialty is public health nursing and psychiatric/mental health.
Clinical Faculty
With over 26 years of experience in healthcare, Laura Beasley has served in various roles, including medical assistant, Registered Nurse (bedside practice), leadership in higher education, and nurse education in the classroom, lab, and clinical environments.
Dr. Annette Hines joins St. Thomas from Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina, where she has served as faculty member since 2000 and as director of the Presbyterian School of Nursing since 2019. She officially steps into the role in January 2024.
The Society for Simulation in Healthcare recently granted the University of St. Thomas Center for Simulation provisional accreditation.
Simulators play a key role in educating a new generation of nurses at the University of St. Thomas in the new Center for Simulation.