The University of Maine established the nursing program in 1939, creating the first baccalaureate program for nurses in Maine. Preparing nurses for the increasingly diverse and global health care system, where change is rapid and constant, is a challenge embraced by the School of Nursing. The program provides a foundation for lifelong intellectual and professional development. Nursing courses begin in the second semester and focus on health promotion and disease prevention through the lifespan, preparing students to provide evidence-based, safe, effective nursing care in a variety of settings.