FEATURE STORY
Shaping the Future of Healthcare
A look inside Mount Mary’s new School of Nursing Dr. Julie Maher compares the School of Nursing at Mount Mary University to a rare gem being polished and shaped. As dean of the recently launched program, she sees a bright future that gleams with promise and will be highly sought after. Maher envisions the nursing program quickly growing into an increasingly Dr. Julie Maher, dean of the valuable community Mount Mary School of Nursing resource, noting the unique features of this new and quickly expanding program. But what exactly sets the Mount Mary School of Nursing apart? To Maher, the answer is twofold: first, the experience, passion and creativity of faculty. Second, the multifaceted backgrounds of students. It’s this unique combination of factors that she points to as having a distinct advantage over similar area programs.
Our strength is in the diversity of our students. — DR. JULIE MAHER “Our strength is in the diversity of our students,” says Maher. “The ability to learn from one another’s cultures and backgrounds and apply this to their learning in the classroom – and in the field – ultimately leads to better outcomes, both for students and for their future patients.” Maher acknowledges a need to incorporate a patient’s cultural and personal background into health care action plans. She places this connection with people at the center of her mission as an educator.
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“As the demands on medical professionals increase, there’s a tendency to see patients as just their symptoms – which ultimately leads to dehumanizing them,” she says. “Considering someone’s belief system and how their background impacts their views makes them feel seen and heard, and this leads to better care outcomes.” A practicing nurse who continues to work in her field even as she steps into her new leadership role, Maher knows the challenges of the healthcare environment intimately. While specializing in women’s health for over three decades, she has witnessed burnout and staffing shortages, seeing firsthand the impacts on hospital staff and patients alike. She brings this experience and wisdom to her students, preparing them to face these challenges and positioning them for long-term success. Maher strives to shape a generation of healthcare providers empowered to use their voices for advocacy, learning to band together to create better work environments for all. “Nurses are among the most trusted professionals. So many people rely on us. When job satisfaction isn’t there, safety and quality become a problem for everyone in the system,” she says. “We’re educating students to build teams with other nurses and work together to effect change.”
State-of-the-art technology sharpens competitive advantage Another distinct advantage for Mount Mary’s Nursing Program is access to high-tech facilities. Maher points to the Health Sciences Simulation Lab, where classes can monitor the vital signs of manikins, replicating real-world hospital situations they may encounter. Student nurses can practice skills using Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) learning management systems that allow students to run virtual simulations of real-life scenarios. This in turn allows them to play out situations that mirror real life – and learn how to respond accordingly. Mount Mary Health Sciences is also home to a new Anatomage table, a tool allowing students to explore complex systems within the human body (see full story on page 8). “Few schools have this type of equipment in their hands. We’re very blessed,” she reflects.
