GAMECOCK
The CONnection News and Views from the University of South Carolina COLLEGE OF NURSING
APRIL 2015
Consumer Focused
Dean Jeannette Andrews
Inside This Issue Students Corner..............2-5 Alumni & Development...6-7 Faculty & Staff Notes....8-10 Upcoming Events..............11 NO LIMITS..........................13
Send Inquiries or Newsletter items to: Jan Johnson jnjohnso@mailbox.sc.edu
For a College of Nursing situated in a large university setting to thrive in the current environment, an anticipatory lens is required in at least two major areas: higher education and health care. While both of these areas are changing rapidly, both domains are appropriately moving to a heightened focus on the consumer. We see this with the increased demands for “patient centered care” in health care delivery systems and “learner/student centered focus” in higher education settings. As I think about these two areas, there are common intersecting themes that our consumers want: • Increased Accessibility • Flexibility • Technology Enhanced Deliveries • Connectivity • Personalized Approach • High Value/Cost Beneficial • Quality • Evidence-Based Models • Generational and Cultural Sensitivity During the past several years, we have been moving strategically with a consumer focused mindset. Examples include: revising student advisement scheduling, increasing summer options to facilitate earlier program completion (BSN, MSN, DNP, and PhD), piloting 8 week semester options for RN-BSN students,” flipping the classrooms”, online courses, community/patient engaged research, care coordination, and others. As our purposeful strategic agendas are realized, our state, national, and global impact continues to grow. Additionally, our national and global prominence as a premier College of Nursing also continues to rise, as evidenced by our rankings and continued measured growth. However, there is more work to be done. With the help of several thought leaders, our talented faculty and staff will be looking prospectively at the future domains of health care and higher education within a consumer focused lens at our “2025” May retreat. Our USC CON village will continue to lead, innovate, and partner to prepare the future nursing workforce and improve health care and healthcare delivery systems for South Carolina’s citizens, families, communities, and beyond. Jeannette O. Andrews PhD, RN, FAAN j.andrews@sc.edu
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