GAME CHANGERS
Developing quality improvement in the MUSC College of Nursing
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ruce Hammonds, an educational blogger from New Zealand, writes “In reality, learning and change are synonymous. Change is not an issue if it makes sense
to and is owned by those involved. An appreciation that change is a continual process, involving confusion and difficulty, is vital for future learners.” The MUSC College of Nursing is a leader of change. It has been transforming the way people look at the nursing profession and the way it educates its students for 130 years. It hasn’t always been an easy trail to blaze. The concept of change is not something that comes naturally to everyone.
“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” Winston Churchill
However, when it is done correctly the extra effort can pay off. The college has seen the benefits of not staying with the herd and evolving into a nationally ranked nursing school through realized results. The Institute of Medicine in 1999 published the book, To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System, that has helped to change the focus of health care in this country. This landmark document focused on improving the quality of patient care and the prevention of avoidable medical errors. But it quickly became evident that quality improvement is a process for all systems – education, practice and research. In this issue of Lifelines we will describe how the MUSC College of Nursing is improving the quality of our educational, research and practice programs with impressive results and outcomes.
SPRING | SUMMER 2014
Lifelines
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