SALEM – The Hannah E. Mullins School of Practical Nursing (HEMSPN) was founded in 1957 when Salem City Hospital (now Salem Regional Medical Center) closed the diploma school for registered nurses and established a practical nursing school. The spacious Charles S. Bonsall residence, purchased in 1918 by W.H. Mullins for the diploma school, easily accommodated the newly established Hannah E. Mullins School of Practical Nursing. The name “Hannah E. Mullins” was chosen in memory of his mother.

Marie G. Durand was the first director of the school and remained the administrator until her retirement in 1975.

The Charles S. Bonsall home accommodated the necessary facilities including classrooms, a clinical simulation lab, library, offices, and a dormitory. Student clinical experiences occurred at the Salem Community Hospital as well as a pediatric clinical at Akron Children’s Hospital. The Salem Community Hospital expansion in 1964 included a pediatric unit, allowing the clinical learning needs for the practical nursing student to be met in one convenient location.

The National League for Nursing (NLN) accredited HEMSPN in June of 1970. At that time, HEMSPN was the second practical nursing school to be NLN accredited in the state of Ohio.

In August 1978, the Bonsall residence was scheduled for demolition. From the charming, quaint surrounding of a historical home, HEMSPN moved into completely modernized, air conditioned, and convenient facility within the Salem Community Hospital. Until February 1991, a dormitory and laundry facilities also were available to the nursing student who preferred to live on the premises.

In March, 1991, HEMSPN affiliated with the Salem City School District Board of Education. This move facilitated funding from the Ohio Department of Education, Office of Vocational Education. With this change, the school offices, library, computer room, conference room and student lounge were housed in the MRI Annex across from the Salem Community Hospital.

One classroom and nursing skills laboratory remained in the hospital; a second classroom was provided by the Salem City School District. In addition, clinical experiences were expanded to include long-term care at Crandall Medical Center as well as the experiences offered at Salem Community Hospital and in the community.

Still operating under the auspices of the Salem Board of Education, HEMSPN experienced two additional moves. The first was August 1997, when the administrative offices, clinical simulation lab, and computer room were housed in the Salem High School while the classrooms were relocated at the Salem City Schools Adult Education facilities. The second and latest HEMSPN relocation in August, 2006, was to the former Salem Middle School building now known as the Kent State University City Center. HEMSPN offices, classrooms, and clinical simulation lab are located on the third floor. This move provides for expansion of the practical nursing program.

From 1997 to the present, the HEMSPN program continues to evolve. Part of this evolution and growth incorporates the addition of a variety of long-term care facilities and community clinic settings. The addition of these facilities provides opportunities to enhance student learning to achieve program outcomes.

HEMSPN continues to hold accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing Inc., approval by the Ohio Board of Nursing and the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Throughout the years, HEMSPN has maintained a reputation of excellence and continues to uphold excellence in nursing and education standards.