[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 109 (Tuesday, September 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATIONS TO ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER COLLEGE OF NURSING

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RAY LaHOOD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 6, 2005

  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend hearty 
congratulations to the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing 
in Peoria, IL, as they celebrate 100 years of providing quality nursing 
education. This outstanding program was organized in 1905 as the Saint 
Francis Hospital School of Nursing by The Sisters of the Third Order of 
St. Francis. Only 10 years later, the school was approved for a diploma 
nursing program by the State of Illinois.
  As testament to their academic rigor and overall success, the School 
of Nursing has been accredited by the National League of Nursing for 55 
years. Additionally, in 1985, the School of Nursing established the 
baccalaureate in nursing degree program and became the Saint Francis 
Medical Center College of Nursing. More recently, in 2001, the College 
of Nursing began offering a master of nursing degree as confirmation of 
their adherence to the highest standards of academic and clinical 
instruction.
  The achievements of the College of Nursing are numerous and great, as 
evidenced by their attainment of the highest level of accreditation by 
the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association and 
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, as well as the 
significant impact of more than 4,300 graduates on patients throughout 
the United States and the world.
  I wish the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing all the 
best with their centennial celebration and thank them for their 
dedication to developing caring professionals through the finest 
nursing education.

                          ____________________