Centro Escolar University - Schools, Colleges and Academic Programs - College of Nursing

Founded in 1975, the College of Nursing offers Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Nursing.

Students at the College of Nursing learn the principles and practice of Nursing as they are seconded to tertiary hospitals and communities around the metropolis during their practicum.

In response to the current educational needs, Centro Escolar University established the College of Nursing in June 1975 with the program Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a 5-year program with Dean Ida Kimseng. This is to answer the demand committed and better quality of nurses to meet the health needs of the Philippine society in both urban and rural orientations. It has a well-planned academic and professional activities and experiences to provide students with opportunities to be involved in rendering total quality nursing care to people in various settings: hospitals, community and other related agencies.

The College of Nursing had a starting population of 524 students during the first semester of the school year 1975-1976 and a population of 533 on the second semester of the same year. The population doubled on the 2nd year of College of Nursing with a population of 1,001 on its 1st semester.The expansion of University facilities addressed the increase in population of the College.

In 1975-1980, the 1st Nursing Arts Laboratory was established at Margarita Oliva Hall (MOH). It was a classroom with basic nursing equipment that the student utilized for Related Learning Experiences to enhance their basic skills. In 1979, the college had its first batch of graduates.

In 1986-1990, another Nursing Arts Laboratory at Generosa De Leon Science Center was constructed and new beds and mannequins were acquired. An amphitheater style gives the students a view of nursing demonstration procedures.

At that time, there were 18 affiliated hospitals, 5 lying –in centers, 37 health centers and 7 communities and the highest board passing rate of 95%

The University commitment to academic excellence led to the accreditation of the College of Nursing and Social Work with the Philippine Accrediting Association of the Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU). The preliminary survey happened on February 18 and 19 year 1988 and the initial formal survey was conducted on February 15 and 16 year 1990.

The 4-year Nursing Curriculum started in 1980-1984. In 1984, the competency-based and community-centered curriculum was implemented. Throughout the 4-year program, the teaching learning activities resolve around the promotion of health, prevention of illness, rehabilitation with the community as its client.

During the leadership of Dean Angelina Lin, the increase in the population led to the expansion of the facilities in the University and the innovation of the Curriculum to meet the global demand.

In 1991-1995, the Nursing Arts Laboratories at the 2nd and 3rd floor at the Librada Avelino Hall were constructed to accommodate the increasing enrollees of the College of Nursing.

The College of Nursing was able to achieve the highest rating of 98.29% National Board Passing Rate. On the November 1996 Board Exam, the CEU College of Nursing was recognized as a Top Performing School with a 94% rating.

In 1998-1999, the new curriculum for the Associate Health Science Education (AHSE) was implemented by the virtue of CHED Memorandum Order No. 27 of 1998. In this curriculum, all general education subjects offered for Baccalaureate degrees lead to the health profession. After the two-year AHSE program, graduates are expected to be equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitude to function as primary health care provider.

In 2000 and at present, Dean Merlina V. Locquiao was appointed as the third dean of the College with the commitment to high level of quality nursing education and nursing practice in the global community.

It was on the 2nd semester of the school year 1999-2000 when the college of Nursing got its lowest number of enrollees with a population of 289. On the 1st semester of the school year 2005, the College of Nursing achieved its highest number of enrollees, with a population of 3,758, since the implementation of the AHSE Program from 1975-2005.

The students are enrolled for two years as Associate Health Science Education (AHSE) students. After graduation from the AHSE program, they will enter the BSN curriculum which requires them to finish another two years being BSN student.

At present the curriculum under the CMO No. 14 Series of 2009 (Policies and Standards for Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program) captures the whole new concept of the nursing profession to produce the most competent and highly competitive nursing graduates in the country. It focuses on the core values of caring as the core of nursing and 11 key areas of responsibility as competencies that a nurse should perform.

On the December 2002 Board Examination, the College of Nursing achieved 93% passing rate that elevated it as one of the top performing schools in the Nursing Board Examination in 2006 -2008 for more than 200 examinees and second top performing school for 1000 examinees in 2009 to 2010.

A team of eight (8) accreditors together with the Executive Director of PAASCU visited Centro Escolar University for a re-survey of the College of Nursing programs on August 9–10, 2000.

Since the establishment of the College of Nursing, community outreach programs have been part of the College activities in collaboration with the University activities. The community immersion program started in 1998 on a partnership with the adopted municipality of Naic, Cavite and presently it has expanded to the municipalities of Ternate in Cavite, Sto. Tomas, Malvar, and Laurel in Batangas in order to deliver the primary health care services to the community people.

For almost 35 years, the CEU College of Nursing remains to be stable and further strive for excellence because of the dedication and hard work of the Deans, faculty, students and the administration.