[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 24244]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF NURSING DESIGNATED AS A NATIONAL 
            LEAGUE FOR NURSING CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I acknowledge a recent 
accomplishment in my home State of South Dakota. I am pleased to share 
with this body that the University of South Dakota, Department of 
Nursing has recently been awarded the prestigious honor of being 
designated as one of three National League for Nursing, Centers for 
Excellence in the United States for 2004-2007.
  The National League for Nursing, Centers of Excellence is designed to 
distinguish those schools that demonstrate innovation in nursing 
research and education. The award requires that beneficiaries be 
committed to continuous quality improvement in their programs. Being 
acknowledged by the National League in this regard indicates a firm 
commitment by the school as a whole to pursue and sustain excellence in 
student learning, faculty development, and nursing education research. 
I am pleased that the USD Department of Nursing has earned such a high 
honor, which is clearly the result of the hard work and dedication of 
the faculty, staff, and students.
  The associate degree nursing program at the University of South 
Dakota is a State-funded program that is available at the main campus 
in Vermillion, SD and campuses in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Pierre and 
Watertown. In addition, the program has a distance education 
partnership with the Good Samaritan Society in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, 
Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. There are over 525 students 
enrolled in the nursing program, and 400 of those students are in 
communities away from the main campus in Vermillion. Such out of state 
partnerships coincides with the NLN mission to continually advance 
quality nursing education throughout the three years the school carry 
the NLN Center of Excellence designation.
  I am pleased with the USD Nursing School's excellent work in training 
and mentoring future health care providers. Nurses are an essential 
component of the health care team and the work of the school will 
ensure that in the years to come South Dakota will have access to these 
important health professionals. I look forward to the progress and 
outcomes that will result from this 3-year designation, and once again 
commend the hard work of the faculty, staff, and student body who 
continuously strive towards improving the health and well being of 
their communities.

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