Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing: A Legacy of Caring and Education
Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing (BSMCON), a private institution in Richmond, Virginia, boasts a rich history rooted in compassionate healthcare and a commitment to nursing excellence. Its evolution reflects the changing landscape of healthcare and the increasing demand for highly educated nurses. The college's motto is "Good Help to Those in Need".
The Origins: Richmond Memorial Hospital School of Nursing (1961-1998)
The story begins in 1961 with the establishment of the Richmond Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. The school was founded to address a critical need: providing a steady stream of qualified nurses for Richmond Memorial Hospital. Richmond Memorial Hospital was built a few years earlier to memorialize the Richmond community’s World War II victims and to serve people of all races and backgrounds regardless of their ability to pay.
The Sisters of Bon Secours, whose ministry was founded for the care of the sick, has long held nursing at their foundation. Soon after, the Sisters opened the Bon Secours Hospital School of Nursing in 1921. By 1961, however, Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing’s rich history began as a diploma program at Richmond Memorial Hospital School of Nursing.
Transition and Growth: Bon Secours Memorial School of Nursing (1998-2010)
In 1993, plans were made to replace Richmond Memorial Hospital through a collaboration with Bon Secours. This partnership marked a significant step in the school's development. The opening of the new Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center in 1998 led to the school being renamed the Bon Secours Memorial School of Nursing.
Becoming a College: The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2010-Present)
Recognizing the increasing importance of higher education in nursing, and in response to the growing evidence showing a positive correlation between a nurse’s education level and patient outcomes, the school launched a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program in 2010. This pivotal moment transformed the school into the Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing, the institution we know today.
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Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing’s history has always been about loving and caring for the sick. Inspired by the Catholic "Sisters of BON Secours Ministry,” known for their legacy of caring for the sick, the college has always integrated nursing into its vision. The college's mandate is to foster comprehensive, continuous, and creative education to develop leaders who promote health and well-being in their communities.
Accreditation and Recognition
Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and holds institutional accreditation with the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. It is approved to operate by both the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia and the Virginia Board of Nursing.
Programs Offered
BSMCON offers a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in nursing program and a post-licensure online RN to BSN program for Registered Nurses who wish to earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing.
The Bon Secours Legacy
The Sisters of Bon Secours (French for “good help”), an international religious congregation devoted to the care of the poor and sick, was founded in Paris, France in 1824. In the United States, the congregation’s health care ministries, which merged with Mercy Health in 2018 to become Bon Secours Mercy Health, include acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, physicians’ practices, home health care services, and hospices.
The Sisters of Bon Secours opened the Bon Secours Hospital School of Nursing in 1921.
Read also: Alumni Memorial Building: A Historical Overview
Since 1966, St. Mary's Hospital has served Central Virginia, providing compassionate health care of the highest quality. The hospital is located in Richmond's West End at 5801 Bremo Road; Richmond, VA 23226. St. Mary's Hospital has served Central Virginia since 1966, providing compassionate health care of the highest quality.
The Health System is a private, Catholic, not-for-profit, community-based health system whose mission is to provide “good help to those in need.”
Other Nursing Programs in the Bon Secours System
The Petersburg Training School for Nurses was organized by Miss Lelia Nevins Ions in November 1895. The first nursing class at Petersburg consisted of three students who trained for a period of two years. With the advent of World War II, there was an increased demand for nurses and nursing services, and an increase in the number of students interested in studying nursing. Cadet Nurse Corp, an organization of the Public Health Service. The relationship between the hospital and the school continued until 1953 when Petersburg General Hospital opened. In 1954, the school closed and the members of the graduating class then affiliated with the Alexandria School of Nursing in Alexandria, Virginia. For two years, the school remained closed. Through the efforts of Mr. E.H.
The School of Radiologic Technology was founded in 1971. The name was changed to St. Mary’s School of Radiologic Sciences in 1982. The program’s current name, St. Mary’s Hospital School of Medical Imaging, was adopted in July 2002. The School once offered a program in Nuclear Medicine Technology and a two-year (24-months) certificate program in Radiologic Technology.
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