Nursing education at Gardner-Webb University began in 1965 with the establishment of the Associate Degree Program (ADN) under the direction of Mrs. Grace C. Lee. The establishment of the ADN program was a joint effort between Gardner-Webb University and two local health care facilities, Cleveland Memorial Hospital and Rutherford Hospital. Mrs. Grace Lee was the first Director of the ADN Program. The ADN program at GWU is the oldest ADN program in North Carolina. In 1978 Dr. Shirley Toney was appointed Program Director. In 1982 a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) completion program, directed by Dr. Janie Carlton, was added to the programs to allow ADN students to achieve their Baccalaureate Degree in two years. This program was offered at two sites, the Boiling Springs Campus and the Statesville campus. In 1991, the BSN completion program became the Davis Nursing Program and outreach centers offered nursing courses in several counties. The School of Nursing was formally established at Gardner-Webb University in 1995 under the guidance of Dr. Shirley Toney. Dr. Kathy Lindsey was appointed Director of the Master of Science Nursing Program in 2008, Dr. Mary Alice Hodge was appointed Director of the Davis School of Nursing Program in 2008 and Linda Wines was appointed Director of the Associate Degree Nursing Program in 2009. In October 2009, the North Carolina Board of Nursing approved the School of Nursing to begin offering a four year generic Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program beginning Fall 2010.History of Nursing at GWU
The Master of Science in Nursing Program (MSN) was established in 2000 directed by Dr. Rebecca Beck-Little. In 2006, Dr. Toney retired and was appointed Dean Emeriti. At that time, Dr. Beck-Little assumed leadership of the School of Nursing as Dean.