Thank you for your interest in Graham Hospital School of Nursing. Founded in 1909, we are a three-year, fully accredited diploma program maintaining a 113-year tradition of educational excellence. Our graduates are respected for their broad base of theoretical knowledge and clinical expertise.

Nursing education at Graham is enhanced by the School’s relationship to Graham Hospital. Our direct link to a healthcare facility enables us to quickly recognize, adopt, and adapt to changes in the healthcare delivery system. In response to such changes, the curriculum is continually reviewed and revised when necessary to meet the demands of ongoing healthcare changes, including temporary transition to hybrid/online delivery methods during the pandemic. The School has a long history of partnership utilizing local and surrounding community healthcare agencies as clinical sites for our students.

GHSON has a cooperating agreement with Spoon River College to provide necessary support courses. Our graduates benefit from having additional college credits to transfer should they decide to pursue further education in Nursing. In December 2019, GHSON signed a dual-credit partnership with Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN) allowing GHSON students an opportunity to work toward achieving a BSN within one year after obtaining their Diploma. Many of our graduates have successfully completed baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral programs and are employed in a variety of settings.

A low student-to-faculty ratio promotes personalized attention and development of working relationships with instructors and staff. A fully equipped computer lab provides our students with the opportunity to utilize computer-assisted instructional aids including around-the-clock access to it. The school currently has three simulation laboratories including an adult male, birthing mother/neonate, pediatric, and two babies. The skills lab is continually updated through the addition of new equipment. The school is also expanding into an additional wing where classrooms will be larger to allow for increasing enrollment. In addition to the new wing, remodeling within the current school floors is planned to begin summer of 2022. We are looking forward to the growth and expansion for our students.

Nursing is an exciting and challenging career which can offer unlimited opportunities to practice in a wide variety of settings. Please join us in making a difference in people’s lives!

Cristy Lafary, M.S.N., M.B.A., B.S.N., R.N.
Director, School of Nursing