This morning, we awoke to the news that the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing had regained its No. 1 standing in the United States. It was a terrific affirmation of all the hard and good work we do—students, faculty, staff, leadership, alumni, donors, and advisory board.
We congratulate and applaud all of our colleague schools across the nation who were recognized in the U.S. News & World Report ranking for 2019.
Regardless of rank, all of us would agree that a number doesn’t define any of us but rather it’s the good work we do. And there is much work to be done—especially now, when our profession is experiencing great risk as well as great opportunities. We are facing a tremendous challenge as a profession, with nurse shortages, a politically entangled health care system, decreased research funding, and a population whose aging brings with it ever more complicated care. Schools of nursing must look to one another for continued collaboration, insight, and innovation.
Moving forward, it is essential that we continue to redefine the conversation of what nursing is and what it can be for the next century. We must position ourselves more broadly as part of the answer and look at interprofessional opportunities to improve not just patient care but social justice and social change.
Nursing education and practice do not operate in a vacuum. While schools of nursing are strong individually, together we are a force to be reckoned with. Without power and influence, nursing will have diminished impact.
We will remain, like our colleague schools, focused upon being leaders in nursing education.
That will always rank No. 1.