A world-class city filled with art and culture and an incredible campus that offers cutting edge resources–that’s what students receive at Penn Nursing. And that’s just the start. Penn Nursing and the wider university offer something for everyone, as well as a lifelong community.

Penn Nursing is globally known for educating dynamic nurses—because our School values evidence-based science and health equity. That’s where our expertise lies, whether in research, practice, community health, or beyond. Everything we do upholds a through-line of innovation, encouraging our exceptional students, alumni, and faculty share their knowledge and skills to reshape health care.

Penn Nursing students are bold and unafraid, ready to embrace any challenge that comes their way. Whether you are exploring a career in nursing or interested in advancing your nursing career, a Penn Nursing education will help you meet your goals and become an innovative leader, prepared to change the face of health and wellness.

Penn Nursing is the #1-ranked nursing school in the world. Its highly-ranked programs help develop highly-skilled leaders in health care who are prepared to work alongside communities to tackle issues of health equity and social justice to improve health and wellness for everyone.

Penn Nursing’s rigorous academic curricula are taught by world renowned experts, ensuring that students at every level receive an exceptional Ivy League education. From augmented reality classrooms and clinical simulations to coursework that includes experiential global travel to clinical placements in top notch facilities, a Penn Nursing education prepares our graduates to lead.

Strumpf to be 2019 Penn Nursing Commencement Speaker

Neville Strumpf, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor and Dean Emerita, will be the 2019 Penn Nursing commencement speaker. The ceremony on Monday, May 20, 2019, will take place at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM. 

April 12, 2019

“Throughout her nearly forty-year tenure as a member of the Penn community, Dr. Strumpf has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and exceptional teaching and mentoring, all driven by her innovative research in the field of elder care and her commitment to equitable and quality health care,” said Penn Nursing Dean Antonia Villarruel. “She is a generous scholar and School and University citizen.”

Through two decades of research, first published in 1988, her work showed the emotional and physical harms of being restrained and established a scientific basis for restraint-free care. Strumpf, and her research colleague, testified before Congress, wrote papers, and worked with professional organizations and regulatory agencies to advocate for restraint-free care.  

By 2000, restraint-free care was widely recognized as the standard of practice, especially in nursing homes. When the American Academy of Nursing developed “Five Things Nurses and Patients Should Question” in 2014 to ensure patients receive necessary but not harmful care, not using physical restraints with older patients was on the list, because of their groundbreaking research. 

Along with her leading-edge work in gerontology, Strumpf led Penn Nursing as interim dean from 2000-2001. During that time, she facilitated strategic planning, faculty governance, and scholarship, easing the transition from one dean to the next.  

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