MUSC College of Nursing

"Palliative care is not something to fear. It's an extra layer of support."

For the 11 million Americans caring for someone with dementia, navigating life after diagnosis can feel overwhelming and isolating. Our researchers Dr. Diana Layne and Dr. Theresa Kelechi wanted to change that.

Their program SUPPORT-D gives patients and caregivers structured guidance, education and personalized support starting at diagnosis, not at the end of life. In their first trial, 76% of participants completed the program and most said it genuinely helped.

Read the full story to see how early palliative care is transforming dementia support: https://bit.ly/475sSzf

We love sharing stories like this one. 💙

Josh graduated from both our ABSN and PMHNP programs, but his relationship with the College of Nursing didn't end at graduation. It evolved.

Today he works as a clinical nurse researcher and PMHNP, mentoring nurses, leading quality improvement initiatives and advancing mental health care across South Carolina. When asked what advice he'd give future students, he said: "Lean into curiosity, seek mentors and never underestimate the impact you can have when you combine clinical expertise with vision and purpose."

If his story resonates with you or someone you know, we encourage you to explore what a career in psychiatric nursing could look like.👇
https://bit.ly/47EhzOG

Psychiatric nursing is one of the hardest rotations a nursing student will face. The conversations are complex, the stakes are high and no textbook can fully prepare you for them.

That is exactly why Instructor Margaret Hoopes brought the Figment Virtual Clinic to our Psych/Mental Health bootcamp this semester. Working with Dr. Jeffrey Borckardt of Figment Learning Labs, she is giving students a safe space to practice su***de risk screening, therapeutic communication and real clinical judgment through AI-powered conversations that feel anything but scripted.

Our students are showing up to their clinical rotations more confident, more prepared and more ready to make a difference.

You're Invited: MUSC College of Nursing Open House | Spring 2026

🗓 Friday, March 27, 2026
🕗 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
📍 MUSC College of Nursing | Charleston, SC

At the MUSC College of Nursing Open House, you will have the opportunity to:
• Meet faculty and current students
• Learn about our academic programs
• Ask questions about admissions, student life, and career pathways

Whether you are exploring nursing for the first time or looking to advance your career, this is your chance to see what is possible at MUSC.

Register here: https://bit.ly/4sjyFJD

Not every path to nursing is linear 💙

Danielle Mercado found her way to the MUSC College of Nursing after working as a certified nursing assistant. Support from the Hearst Foundation Scholarship has allowed her to focus on academics, get involved on campus and prepare for a future at the bedside — inspired by the compassionate care she once received as a MUSC patient.

See how scholarships are shaping future nurses: https://bit.ly/3OuxSHf

Preparedness is not a destination. It is a commitment.

At MUSC Health, that commitment just reached a new level. Last week the hospital ran its largest mass casualty simulation to date, twenty patients, twelve departments, and Charleston County EMS, all activated simultaneously on a real workday.

At the center was Taryn Flynn, RN, DNP student at the MUSC College of Nursing, whose improvement project helped elevate and expand MUSC Health's already active approach to mass casualty preparedness into a hospital-wide movement that is now growing across facilities.

"No single role or department can prepare for a high-risk event alone. These partnerships transform individual strengths into a collective capability, and that is what will save lives." - Taryn Flynn

📣 We’re Hiring at the College of Nursing!

Ready to make an impact in nursing education? We’re growing our team and looking for passionate professionals to help shape the future of health care.

🔹 Undergraduate Student Recruiter
Be the bridge between prospective students and their nursing futures. Strong CRM, communication, event coordination and relationship-building skills are a plus.

🔹 Curriculum Coordinator II
Collaborate with faculty to enhance curriculum design, integrate instructional technology, support digital accessibility and elevate online course quality.

🔹 Clinical Education Coordinator
Coordinate undergraduate clinical placements, strengthen hospital partnerships, support compliance and ensure students are prepared for hands-on learning experiences.

→ Apply today: https://bit.ly/4qU9pIY

Please join us in congratulating Belicia DeBose-Hall, Colette Johnson, Emorie Thrasher, and Elizabeth Muniz!

These four outstanding MUSC College of Nursing students have been accepted to present a poster at the 37th International Nursing Research Congress, taking place July 16-18 in Toronto, Ontario. This is one of the most prestigious nursing research conferences in the world and we are so proud they will be representing MUSC on that stage!

Their research examines how specialized emergency mental health services impact outcomes for children experiencing a mental health crisis, important work with the potential to shape the future of pediatric care nationwide. Congratulations to this incredible team! 🎉

We need passionate professionals like you to mentor our nursing students. Share your knowledge, inspire future nurses and strengthen health care in our community.

Ready to make an impact? Learn how to become a preceptor: https://bit.ly/MUSCPreceptor

Erin Munch walked into a delivery room as a nursing student and walked out completely changed. "It showed me how we each entered this world," she says.

That moment during her clinicals wasn't just a textbook experience, it was deeply human. It's the kind of experience that reminds us why nursing is so much more than a profession.

Erin graduated from MUSC's College of Nursing ABSN program and now works as an RN on the Children and Adolescents unit at MUSC's Institute of Psychiatry. Every single day she shows up with one guiding belief — that mental and physical health are inseparable, and that every patient deserves care for both.

Stories like Erin's remind us what nursing looks like when it's done with heart. We're so proud of you, Erin! 👏🤍

→ To learn more about our ABSN program visit the link: https://bit.ly/4tJjpaA