Under the leadership of Dr. Kimberly Udlis, the Wisconsin Nursing School has improved a strong program with updated curriculum and more than $1 million in nurse-training technology
The nursing school at Marian University, one of the highest-rated and most affordable private schools in Wisconsin, has made a remarkable number of recent accomplishments. They include updating the nursing school curriculum, raising the NCLEX-RN scores of nursing school graduates to among the best in the state and investing more than $1 million in technology improvements.
The department also has placed nursing experts in leadership and faculty positions. That starts with Dr. Kimberly Udlis, (PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP), the Associate Dean and Chief Nurse Administrator for the Marian University Nursing Department.
Under the leadership of Udlis, the nursing department now has four high fidelity simulators that allow students to experience patient care scenarios in obstetrics, pediatrics, acute care and medical surgical. Also, Marian University nursing graduates recently achieved a NCLEX pass rate of 96%, according to official statistics from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) NCLEX Program Report.
Udlis credits the success of her team to “trust, vision, and grit.” She said the nursing school focuses on supporting students, guiding them and giving them the resources they need to attain their academic goals.
“Marian is a wonderful university that is dedicated to educating the whole student, which means you’re not just a student ID number, you’re part of our Marian family,” said Dr. Udlis, who previously served as Graduate Program Director at Bellin College and assistant director of advanced nursing practice at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
The Marian University approach to education attracted Udlis. After meeting the department’s faculty and staff, Udlis said, “I was so impressed with their dedication, determination, and true sense of caring for their students and each other. I went home and told my husband that I really wanted this position. I wanted to be part of this amazing team.”
Asked what she is most proud of since taking her current position in 2017, Udlis said it is the department’s team and their dedication to students.
“I know our students, both undergraduate and graduate, have the best faculty and staff to support their success. We see the outcomes of this dedication in our NCLEX-RN pass rates and FNP certification pass rates,” Udlis said. “But I’m most proud of seeing the success of our graduates and the wonderful work that our alumni are doing in the community.”
