In 1922, William Jennings Bryan gave his home, “Fairview,” and surrounding land to the Nebraska Conference of the Methodist Church for the purpose of establishing a new hospital in Lincoln. From this gift and others, a dream became a reality when the 60-bed Bryan Memorial Hospital opened on June 6, 1926. When Bryan School of Nursing opened the same year with 37 students, Fairview became the student dormitory.
Bryan Health continues its commitment to providing quality health care. Today, Bryan Health includes a 620-bed regional medical center, offering a complete range of inpatient and outpatient diagnostic, therapeutic and ancillary services; Bryan Heart; Bryan Foundation; Bryan Physician Network, Inc.; and Crete Area Medical Center. Bryan Health is a member of The Heartland Health Alliance network, which fosters collaborative efforts throughout the region. The comprehensive care and treatment facilities available at Bryan Health make it possible for our skilled staff members to provide the most sophisticated and advanced health care.
Bryan Medical Center and the School of Nursing built upon the strengths of both organizations and the history of the Lincoln General Hospital School of Nursing to establish Bryan College of Health Sciences, a partnership that provides significant clinical experience to its students.
In 2001, the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education approved the request by Bryan School of Nursing to become a degree-granting institution. To address changing needs in healthcare delivery and education, the College replaced the Diploma program in Nursing with a Baccalaureate program.
Today, Bryan College of Health Sciences encompasses a School of Graduate Studies, a School of Undergraduate Studies, and the Center for Excellence in Simulation. The School of Graduate Studies includes the School of Nurse Anesthesia, the Graduate Nursing Program, and graduate certificate offerings. The School of Undergraduate Studies includes the School of Nursing, School of Healthcare Studies, and undergraduate certificate offerings. The College offers Associate, Baccalaureate, Masters and Doctoral degrees along with certificate programs in the Health Sciences.
Bryan College of Health Sciences is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. The specialty programs are accredited by national specialized accrediting bodies.
Accreditation for the sonography programs has been obtained from the Council on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. The baccalaureate nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, and the nurse anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs.
The College has maintained the goal of academic and clinical excellence emphasized by its founders and continues to prepare healthcare providers with professional skills, awareness, interest, and concern for health care.