From the Dean
To the alumni and friends of Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing,
And so, another academic year begins with excitement and anticipation. This year, we welcome 126 first-year undergraduates as they embark on their journey toward becoming nurses. During these four transformative years, they will learn the basics of patient centered care, critical thinking, clinical leadership and more. As they develop, so do healthcare and nursing knowledge, and our faculty will be at the forefront of uncovering and sharing these discoveries and changes. For over 101 years, your unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation has been what sets us apart, and for that I am truly grateful.
As nurses, we consider the entire continuum of care—from hospital to home and every transition in between. This commitment was powerfully illustrated in the film American Delivery, which premiered at the Cleveland International Film Festival and showcased the vital role nurses play throughout the healthcare journey (find out more on p. 26). Additionally, our nurse midwifery students recently presented on a range of women’s health issues, further highlighting our dedication to comprehensive care (see p. 11).
We are also proud to announce a renewed emphasis on critical care nursing education, particularly in our specialized flight nursing program. Student Tanner Purnhagen exemplifies the rigorous training and exceptional skill required to excel in this demanding field (learn more about him on p. 10).
Our School of Nursing remains at the forefront of exposing nurses to innovative models of care that incorporate cutting-edge digital technologies including artificial intelligence (see p. 12). We are also preparing our students to be resilient and to address the ever-present effects of climate change, which are impacting healthcare systems in dynamic ways (see p. 7).
As we continue to advance nursing education and practice, I am confident our collective efforts will make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities worldwide—and it’s all possible because of your continued dedication and support.
Carol Musil, PhD, RN, FAAN (NUR ’79; GRS ’91, nursing)
Dean and Edward J. and Louise Mellen Professor
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
This article appears in the print edition of Forefront magazine, summer 2024. Find more stories from Forefront at case.edu/nursing/news-events/forefront-magazine.