The College of Nursing has changed more than its address with the move to the ASU Downtown Phoenix Campus. It also has changed its name to the College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation for the purpose of conveying its emphasis on innovative programs and centers as well as its commitment to offering evidence-based solutions to improving complex healthcare systems.
Dean Bernadette Melnyk said the name change has been made to more accurately reflect and market the many new educational, research initiatives, and strategic partnerships it has launched in the past 18 months. Its achievements include:
- Recruitment of 26 new faculty during a time of an extreme shortage of nurse educators and a record enrollment of 1,700 students
- The nation’s first Master of Healthcare Innovation degree program
- The first online graduate certificate in Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in the U.S.
- Building of an infrastructure that spurred an increase of 250 percent in federal grant applications in 2005
- Creation of research and teaching centers for evidence-based practice; children, teens and families; and aging
- The first EBP mentorship program in the nation
- Formation of strategic education partnerships with Mayo Clinic, Banner Healthcare, and Phoenix Children’s Hospital
- Signing of a technical agreement with the Pan American Health Association/World Health Organization to advance EBP in 41 nations in the Americas
- Leadership in establishing the first statewide consortium of more than 50 healthcare institutions to advance EBP in Arizona to improve the quality of patient outcomes and serve as a model for other states
- Launch of the Southwest Borderlands Nursing web site to improve Latino healthcare.
Several additional first-of-its kind initiatives have been approved and are scheduled to begin in 2007-2008 School Year.
The energy created by the name change aside, College of Nursing & Health Innovation faculty and staff are now excited to be one of the first three colleges to occupy the newest ASU campus. The new accommodations provide the college with first-class facilities as well as expanded space to consolidate most activities in one building.
Most of the 180 nursing faculty and staff that have moved to the DPC are located in the renovated four-story, 80,000 square-foot building at 500 N. 3rd Street. The college’s Learning Resource Center for student clinical practice simulations is located a short walk away in the Mercado. The first floor of the 3rd Street building also houses the ASU Health Center which provides healthcare for all DPC employees.
About 12 College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation employees in the Academy of Continuing Education, Nurse Educator, and RN Baccalaureate program will remain at annex offices in the Community Services Building on Curry Road in Tempe. ASU Polytechnic, ASU West, and Mayo Clinic campuses are not affected by the move.
Construction of a second nursing building at the DPC is scheduled to start later this year and be completed for the 2008-2009 School Year. At that time the Learning Resources Center and remaining program faculty and staff in the Community Services Building will move to the interconnected 230,000 square-foot, two-building complex.
Jacalyn Askin, assistant dean and director of financial operations, and Mary Killeen, associate dean for academic affairs, played lead roles in coordinating the move with DPC Administration and ASU Facilities Management.
Dean Melnyk has ample reason to be optimistic about the future of College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation. “Our ambitious strategy, innovative initiatives, new name, and first-class facilities provide the infrastructure and motivation to reach our goal to become a top tier nursing college by 2010,” Dean Melnyk said. “It’s the perfect combination at the perfect time for success.”
