In 1950, the diploma program within Baylor Hospital in Dallas, which is now Baylor University Medical Center, became one of the six degree-granting schools of Baylor University. In 1954, the first Bachelors of Science in Nursing degrees were awarded, establishing the school as one of the oldest baccalaureate nursing programs in the United States.
In 1999, Baylor's nursing school was renamed Louise Herrington School of Nursing in honor of Louise Herrington Ornelas for her endless contributions to Baylor and the nursing profession in general. Her endowment gift to the nursing school marked one of the largest financial gifts in Baylor's history.
