Forging into the Future: Innovations and Transitions

UPfront Magazine - Fall 2013

Transitions are well-known in nursing. As nurses, we care for people who move from illness to wellness or chronicity or from one stage of life to another. The healthcare system, too, will be going through a major transition as millions of Americans join the ranks of the newly insured and will be entitled to preventative and curative interventions. Increased reliance on technology in educational and healthcare systems will change the landscape. And, as millions of baby boomers age, necessitating a new emphasis on managing chronic conditions, nursing and healthcare will undergo more seismic shifts. In short, we are in the midst of many transitions.

Anticipating and recognizing these transitions, we at the School embarked on instituting many innovative changes in our educational and research programs. First, we made substantive changes in our undergraduate curriculum (now in its third year of implementation). Next we launched a new simulation laboratory integrating creative simulating experiences throughout the undergraduate and graduate programs. Our state-of-the-art Helene Fuld Pavilion for Innovative Learning prepares students for real-life nursing experiences using the most advanced simulation equipment and instruction to provide challenging but safe opportunities to review and assess their critical thinking skills, diagnostic instincts, and effectiveness.

In this issue of UPfront, we showcase many examples of innovations that advance research, practice, technology, and education – both nationally and globally – that have generated companies, patents, grants, awards, apps, and groundbreaking research.