Welcome and Overview

On behalf of the faculty and staff of the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions (SONHP), thank you for serving as a clinical preceptor to our nursing students. As a preceptor, you play a vital role in the education of our students and the continued development of the nursing profession. We recognize that it is a big commitment to support student learning in addition to your clinical activities, and we greatly appreciate all of your efforts. If you have any questions or concerns about clinical precepting, please do not hesitate to contact us.

University History & Values

The University of San Francisco (USF), the city's first university, was founded by Jesuit priests in 1855. USF is made up of six colleges and schools that include School of Nursing and Health Professions (SONHP), College of Arts & Sciences, School of Law, School of Management, and School of Education.

USF’s School of Nursing was founded in the 1940s as a cooperative effort with the Sisters of Mercy for registered nurses from nearby St. Mary's Hospital to earn their baccalaureate degrees. The School became the first private nursing program in California, formed in 1954 and accredited by the National League for Nursing when the first students graduated in 1958. Since then, SONHP remains committed to preparing professional nurses within the Jesuit academic tradition, with strong liberal arts and science preparation coupled with professional knowledge in the discipline of nursing. 

The SONHP at USF advances the mission of the university by preparing professional nurses with a moral compass to transform health care in order to promote equity and positively influence quality, delivery, and access to care.

Mission

The mission of the SONHP is to advance nursing and health professional education within the Jesuit tradition. The school uses dynamic and innovative approaches in undergraduate and graduate education to prepare professionals for current and future practice domains. SOHNP links classroom, clinical and field experiences with expectations for competence, compassion, and justice in health care with high academic standards. 

Vision

The SONHP at USF advances the mission of the university by preparing health professionals to address the determinants of health, promote policy and advocacy, and provide a moral compass to transform health care in order to further equity and positively influence quality, delivery, and access.

Academic Programs

The USF SONHP offers programs in baccalaureate, masters and doctoral nursing education. The prelicensure programs prepare registered nurses at the baccalaureate and master’s degree levels. Masters and doctoral programs are available for students who are currently registered nurses. 

  • Pre-licensure Nursing Program
    • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
    • Masters Entry – Master of Science in Nursing (ME-MSN)
  • Graduate Nursing Programs for Registered Nurses
    • Master of Science in Nursing
    • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP FNP)
      • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (DNP PMHNP)
      • Master of Public Health (MPH) and DNP dual degree 
         

Program Contacts

Pre-licensure Nursing (Undergraduate and Post-baccalaureate Masters Entry) 

Graduate Nursing (MSN and DNP)