About BRCN

Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing (BRCN) offers a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree through two joint programs with our partners, Culver-Stockton College and Quincy University. Students take all nursing courses and clinicals at BRCN and general education courses at the partner college. Your first nursing course is in the first semester of the Sophomore year.  Most of the Junior and Senior years are spent on the BRCN campus. Students who complete the program earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and are prepared to the state board of nursing examination for licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN).
Like most colleges, our students are both male and female; some are new high school graduates and some are older non-traditional students; some have some college credit and some are already nurses who want to get their BSN degree.

Blessing-Rieman also offers a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree for baccalaureate-prepared nurses. The MSN program offers two tracks: nurse administrator and nurse educator.

(Last Updated: 2/10/2010 5:18:20 AM  By: kmayville)

Location

Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing is located in Quincy, Illinois, a community of approximately 45,000 people, on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River in western Illinois. The BRCN campus is approximately 100 miles west of Springfield, Illinois, and 120 miles north of St. Louis, Missouri. Quincy is accessible by car, Amtrak train, bus, and airplane through the Quincy Regional Airport. Quincy is the county seat and the largest community within a 100-mile radius.  It’s known for architecture, theater, museums, shopping, dining, beautiful riverside parks, dogwood trees, and historical sites.
BRCN is located at 11th and Oak, on the campus of Blessing Hospital, a regional medical center.  The hospital is the primary site for student clinical nursing experiences.  The campus is about 6 blocks from Quincy University and 20 miles from Culver-Stockton College. (Google Map)

(Last Updated: 2/21/2008 11:10:03 AM  By: bennetty)

History

The college has a long and rich history.  Discussions about starting a training school affiliated with Blessing Hospital began in 1887. Pupils were first accepted into the school in 1891. A class of three nurses graduated in 1894. Blessing Training School for Nurses was a two year training program.  It became a 3-year diploma program in 1904.  It was one of only 34 nursing schools registered with the state of Illinois in 1909.  Blessing graduates were then able to put RN behind their name. Discussion of a baccalaureate program began in 1957 and was formally converted to a four-year BSN degree in 1985.  An MSN degree was added in 2007. 

Visitors are encouraged to view the lobby display of historical photos and nursing artifacts dating back to the early days of nursing in Quincy. 

(Last Updated: 6/10/2008 12:29:26 PM  By: arlisd)