February 2014 enewsletter

VITAL SIGNS....An Update from Alumni and Development Visionary Leadership is honored with a Lasting Legacy A successful major fund raising campaign for Clinical Simulation When a shortage of faculty and clinical settings seemed to converge in 2008, former Dean Peggy Hewlett, PhD, RN, FAAN, was seeking the best academic education combined with strong clinical skills for undergraduate and graduate students at the College of Nursing. Increasing the number of graduates to meet the demand for BSN and doctoral prepared Nurse Practitioners was vital.

One option to address the impending crisis was to establish clinical simulation technology.

She recruited a competent clinical expert on her faculty, Erin McKinney, MN, RNC, to develop and direct the program. With visionary leadership combined with an enthusiastic faculty, supportive community leaders, great donors and committed students the Clinical Simulation Laboratory (CSL) was created.

About this same time, Dr. John J. Schaefer, Director, Healthcare Simulation South Carolina, established an initiative to promote the development of clinical simulation for healthcare students and practicing professionals and the USC CON was a recipient of this initial funding. The College has achieved its goals to increase student enrollment and promote excellence in clinical practice. In five years of operation, students, faculty and clinical practice settings have been impressed by the CSL’s value in strengthening clinical competency of nursing students.

The College’s community Partnership Board (PB) became a strong advocate for the CSL program and the need to update the equipment and practice scenarios.

To raise awareness, they hosted educational programs for the community and visited the Clinical Effectiveness and Patient Safety Center at MUSC and the USC Salkehatchie Nursing satellite program to learn of their needs for sufficient clinical simulation practice opportunities.

The Partnership Board set a major funding campaign with a goal to raise up to $200,000, and to recognize Dean Hewlett who was stepping down from the Deanship in 2012. To date, the CSL campaign has raised over half of the $200,000 goal and created a Wall of Honor on the first floor of the College near the CSL in Dr. Hewlett’s name. There is a handsome gamecock surrounded by a plaque recognizing the Hearst Foundation which provided $75,000 and other generous donors and gifts which totaled an additional $31,000 for a total of $106,000.

The Wall of Honor, Dean Hewlett and the current donors were recognized this fall during the Viana McCown Alumni Homecoming reunion. Donations are still being accepted for this important endeavor and efforts are underway for simulation funding for USC Lancaster and Salkehatchie nursing students. Visit the College and have your picture with the Gamecock that represents the spirit of the College of Nursing-providing the world with Nurse Advocates who are making a difference.