A publication of the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing

MUSC Nurses Change Lives

Lifelines Volume X, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2012

Gail W. Stuart, Dean Jo Smith, Editor Beth Khan, Design & Production Mardi Long, Director of Student & Alumni Affairs Laurie Scott, Director of Development

Published by

99 Jonathan Lucas Street MSC 160 Charleston, SC 29425-1600 www.musc.edu/nursing

Have feedback? Send comments to: Jo Smith Lifelines Editor MUSC College of Nursing 99 Jonathan Lucas St., MSC 160 Charleston, SC 29425-1600 E-mail: smithjo@musc.edu Phone: (843) 792-3941

POSTMASTER: Send corrections to Lifelines, MUSC College of Nursing, 99 Jonathan Lucas St., MSC 160, Charleston, SC 29425-1600. © Copyright 2012 by the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced without permission from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing.

DEAN’S COLUMN

I

n the past year I have often been asked, how did your College of Nursing survive the “grim reaper” of extensive and devastating budget cuts. The fact is that we are not only surviving but we are actually thriving, as we move forward with a sharper focus, more creative ideas, and new proactive initiatives. In many ways we have emerged from this financial quagmire as a stronger and somewhat transformed MUSC College of Nursing. This issue of Lifelines highlights the challenges we faced, the strategies we implemented and our glimpse into the crystal ball of our future. One part of our future that is particularly exciting for all of us is the grand news that after 56 years, the College of Nursing is going to be renovated! Actually it will be more than just renovated; it will be transformed into a state-of-the-art nursing school. We will be gutting the hallways and literally rebuilding each floor from the inside out – new walls, flooring, windows, plumbing, heat and air conditioning, roof, and elevators. For those of you who have walked these halls, you may know that the College of Nursing was originally built in 1956 for a cost of $1 million. This five-story structure combined education, recreation, and dormitory areas all under one roof. What most people are not aware of is that the building was actually designed in the shape of a nurse’s cap, and that an impression of Florence Nightingale’s lamp appears at the top of the building. Our fine building has a rich history and one that we will be preserving as we launch our renovation. To that end we have met with University archivists to discuss how we will be preserving the historical artifacts in the College. They will be conducting a thorough inventory of the contents of our building, guiding us through critical decisions about what is of significant historical value, what the state requires that we preserve, and what items can be either stored or discarded. We also will have an appraiser come to inform us about some of our treasured possessions. As one of the oldest Colleges of Nursing in the country we are truly proud of our rich heritage and we will be moving through the renovation process carefully and thoughtfully as we preserve our celebrated past to inform our glorious future. In future issues of Lifelines we will share with you the renovation progress as we emerge from the cocoon of dust and dirt as a beautiful butterfly that will fly to new destinations of education, research and practice.

Gail W. Stuart, PhD, RN, FAAN Dean and Distinguished University Professor