From the Dean

Dear Friends,

It feels as if years rather than months have passed since the spring issue. In that time span our school and the world has adapted to a global pandemic and we face head on being the epicenter of racial inequities that remain within our society, health care, education, and, yes, our school, that were brought to light by the killing of George Floyd.

In this issue of Minnesota Nursing, we explore how changes in the world have transformed many of the ways we deliver on our mission. Nursing research at the school quickly adapted with our faculty using their expertise in informatics, gerontology and wellness, among others, to improve the understanding of the virus and its impact, and needed nursing care.

The inability to conduct our classes in person has led to incredible innovation in virtual learning, including exquisite transformation in simulation. The shift to online education parallels the rise of telehealth, which has provided invaluable new clinical patient experiences and, consequently, new experiences for our students. Some of our students responded to health challenges by developing a video series to help reduce barriers to prenatal education exacerbated by a reduction in in-person visits.

The cover story of Minnesota Nursing shares another example of our school leading the way, this time in addressing climate change. It introduces us to Nurses Drawdown, a global movement to activate 28 million nurses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the School of Nursing students, alumni and faculty who were key in launching it.

Speaking of alumni, this issue profiles a DNP grad who is using informatics to build the tools that make us smarter and quicker in measuring the quality of nursing, a master’s alumna who is supporting African American women in Minnesota to overcome barriers to breastfeeding, and a PhD alum who is using her research skills in the clinical setting to inform care.

We invite you to enjoy these stories and the rest of Minnesota Nursing. We encourage you to celebrate transformation and to stay connected with us. We look forward to hearing from you and always appreciate your feedback.

Connie White Delaney
Professor and Dean