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C-SC, Blessing-Rieman celebrate 20-year partnership in nursing education
Monday, November 23, 2009

CANTON, Mo. -- Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing, Quincy, Ill., and Culver-Stockton College, Canton, Mo., are marking the 20th anniversary of the first graduating class of their joint bachelor of science in nursing program. The two colleges celebrated the event with a reception for the graduates of the Class of 1989 recently.

Prior to partnering with Culver-Stockton to offer a four-year, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, Blessing-Rieman was known as the Blessing Hospital School for Nurses and offered a three-year diploma in nursing.

“Together we have created a dynamic program which provides an optimal educational experience for our nursing students,” said Pam Brown, Ph.D., RN, president/chief executive officer, Blessing-Rieman. “The joint program provides students with all of the benefits of a four-year liberal arts college experience where they obtain a firm foundation in the arts and sciences, as well as in nursing art and science. Nursing is an applied science, and our students gain clinical knowledge and experience at Blessing Health System, a regional medical center campus. The end result is a graduate professional nurse with a well-rounded liberal arts education.”

“Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Culver-Stockton College have shared an extremely successful partnership over the past 20 years, one that has enabled both colleges to provide a unique education for the Joint program students,” said Richard Valentine, president, Culver-Stockton College. “These men and women begin careers in nursing at the highest level of professionalism providing the best in technical skills and compassionate hands-on care to their patients and communities.”

Opened in 1891, Blessing-Rieman is the oldest, accredited nursing education institution in Illinois, outside of Chicago. Blessing-Rieman holds the National League for Nursing’s designation of a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. The College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and is approved by the State Boards of Nursing in Illinois and Missouri.