history of the College
At the Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing, students, faculty, staff and alumni are part of a nearly 200 year mission of providing compassionate care to those in need. Beginning in the 1800s, the Sisters of Bon Secours (Good Help®) provided care to the sick and dying in Paris, France, in their homes. From those simple beginnings, the mission has grown into an international health care organization. Our College extends this mission by educating nurses in a spirit of academic excellence to serve our community with genuine compassion and to the highest clinical standards. We are deeply committed to meeting the needs of our patients and adapting to the growing, changing needs of the world in which we serve.
The College traces its roots to the Richmond Memorial (Hospital) School of Nursing, founded in 1961. From its earliest days, the school awarded the diploma in nursing. Programs included extensive clinical experience and graduates typically accepted their first nursing position in the hospital that shared its name.
In 1998 Richmond Memorial Hospital, with whom the nursing school was affiliated, joined the Bon Secours Health System. The school was renamed the Bon Secours Memorial School of Nursing. In 2010 the school took a bold step. In response to growing evidence showing a positive relationship between a nurse's educational level and positive patient outcomes, the school launched a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. In accordance with that change and with accreditation by the American Association of Independent Colleges and Schools, the school started doing business as the Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing. In 2011, the College expanded its offerings with a Bachelor of Science completion program for RNs offered in an on-line format.
Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing Annual Report
Click here to view our 2009-2010 Annual Report.
