Our Past
The Nursing Education program at CU was established in response to widespread community interest and an increasing need for professional nurses in middle Tennessee. On September 8, 1991, the Tennessee Board of Nursing awarded unanimous initial approval to Cumberland University to begin its Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program (BSN).
Many other facilities and organizations in the Middle Tennessee area contributed seed money, student scholarship money or equipment/supplies to enable Cumberland to meet the needs of the Middle Tennessee area for well-prepared nurses. In the spring of 2004, the school’s name was changed to the Jeanette Rudy School of Nursing in honor of Dr. Jeanette Cantrell Rudy, a retired nurse and longtime friend and benefactor of Cumberland University. Today, the program is growing exponentially–and successfully. On December 4, 2014, the Tennessee Board of Nursing granted initial approval to Cumberland University to begin its Masters of Science in Nursing Program (MSN).
We know how to prepare our students. This success–and the dream behind it–started with the interest and generosity of the University's many friends. University Medical Center generously provided an area for the Learning Resources Laboratory, major educational equipment and supplies for nursing skills simulation.
Cumberland has a strong reputation of placing nursing students in jobs of their choice.Four academic tracks are available to help:
1. General students obtain a B.S.N. in eight semesters.
2. Registered nurses (RN's) holding diplomas or Associate Degrees upgrade to B.S.N. status.
3. Students holding baccalaureate or university parallel degrees in areas other than nursing obtain a B.S.N. degree without meeting a second set of core requirements.
4. Registered nurses (RN’s) holding a B.S.N. obtain a Master of Science in Nursing.
Accreditation
View our accreditation statement in the Cumberland University Catalog.
For a complete description of all courses, please review the Cumberland University Graduate Catalog.
The Jeanette C. Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions is located in McFarland Hall, located at 500 Park Ave. in Lebanon, TN 37087.
For NURSING Admissions Assessment information, please contact the admissions office at admissions@cumberland.edu or 615-547-1393