As May’s National Nurses Week recognizes the many ways America’s 3.1 million registered nurses work to improve the health of millions of people, Emory’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing is celebrating record application growth for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year.  

Overall applications increased by 42.5 percent, particularly in students with the degrees in other disciplines. Male applications to the School of Nursing have increased by 180 percent since 2008. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) specialty programs also saw growth with nurse-midwifery applications increasing by 116 percent.  

"The growth in all of our areas shows that nursing remains one of the most popular professions in the country,' says Linda McCauley, RN, PhD, FAAN, FAAOHN, dean and professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. “As health care continues to evolve, we’re going to not only need more nurses, but also more highly trained and specialized care providers who can serve as part of a dynamic health care team."