Chamberlain College of Nursing has a solid and historical, 120-year educational foundation of preparing compassionate, knowledgeable, and clinically proficient graduates. Formerly known as Deaconess College of Nursing, Chamberlain College of Nursing is fueled by the ingenuity of a progressive and expansive nursing program.
First established in 1889, the school evolved from a diploma school of nursing to a college of nursing, offering both ASN and BSN degrees. In March 2005, DeVry Inc. acquired Deaconess. A term of the acquisition agreement is that Devry's use of the Deaconess name will expire as of September 30, 2006, thus requiring a new name.
The new name Chamberlain exemplifies the strength and solid, historical foundation of Deaconess, while positioning the school for future growth.
Derived from the Middle English word chaumberlein, which means chief steward, the name also alludes to the critical role of the nurse as the central steward and coordinator of patient care.
The Deaconess tradition began in 19th-Century Europe. Theodore Fliedner of Kaiserswerth, Germany, established the first Deaconess Home and Hospital in 1836. Young, unmarried women were invited to join in the Deaconess Sisterhood to assist Fliedner with his mission. The word deaconess means “one who is devoted to service.” One of the early students was a young English woman, Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern professional nursing.