News & Events

While nursing workforce issues nationwide, and especially in Maryland with its high density of health care organizations, have existed since long before 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic amplified the challenges, and demand for nurses has reached a fever pitch as the United States scrambles to fill vacancies. The 2022 Maryland Action Coalition (MDAC) Virtual Leadership Summit, hosted by the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) on May 23, took a deep dive into workforce challenges and opportunities with its theme “Optimizing Maryland’s Nursing Workforce.”  The content, offered through a full day of live virtual programming to about 150 attendees, focused on cultivating a diverse and skilled workforce, preparing nursing students to meet future health care needs, and exploring strategies for retention. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of addressing the social determinants of health, a key concept undergirding the National Academy of Medicine’s The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity, a report that outlines a goal of achieving health equity in the United States over the next decade, based on strengthened nursing capacity and expertise. It builds on the foundation set by the 2010 report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. MDAC was formed in 2011 in response to that report and serves as the driving force transforming health care through nursing in the state. Recognizing the important work already underway in Maryland and with a goal of long-term sustainable change, the coalition leads the way to improve the health of the population. “Some of the key themes of The Future of Nursing 2020-2030 report include the need to address social determinants of health, reduce health disparities, and address inequities in our health system,” Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, said in her opening remarks. Kirschling serves as co-chair of MDAC with Patricia Travis, PhD, RN, CCRP, senior associate director of clinical trials at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “These are not new challenges but were certainly brought into sharper focus as a result of the disparate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on selected populations,” Kirschling added. “Another outcome of the pandemic has been the significant toll it’s taken on nurses and other health care providers throughout the country, particularly the level of moral distress and burnout experienced by nurses on the front lines of care delivery.” Read More

On June 2, the inaugural recipients of the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) President’s Global Impact Fund (PGIF) gathered virtually to provide an update on their projects. PGIF is a $250,000 initiative providing support for 11 projects that aim to develop cross-campus and international collaborations to enhance UMB’s global engagement and reach (see list of projects below). The fund was launched after the 2019 UMB Global Health Summit, which brought researchers, practitioners, and interprofessional teams to campus to highlight the University’s commitment to improving the human condition through collaborative health and human services. Each group gave a presentation on the progress of their projects, which are now two years in the making. Read More

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has appointed Hannah Murphy Buc, MSN, RN, CNE, clinical instructor, as director of its entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. She succeeds Jana Goodwin, PhD, RN, assistant professor, who has been appointed chair of the UMSON program at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland. As program director, Murphy Buc will work with faculty, staff, students, and community and clinical partners to continue developing and implementing a revised BSN curriculum based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s new Essentials, which provides a framework for incorporating competency-based education for practice-ready graduates. UMSON is a national leader in implementing the revised curriculum, which begins this fall. Murphy Buc will also identify priorities and guide the program’s faculty development, student inclusion and success, and partnerships with community stakeholders to continue creating meaningful and engaging opportunities for students that also contribute to improving health care quality, equity, and outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.  UMSON’s entry BSN program is ranked No. 10 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and is the top-ranked BSN program in Maryland. The program prepares students to excel in nursing careers across a broad spectrum of acute, chronic, and community-based settings. National data indicates that employers increasingly prefer and, in some cases, require, a baccalaureate degree. “Professor Murphy Buc brings great expertise in both clinical and classroom pedagogies, as well as a deep commitment to our School values of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Maeve Howett, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE, professor and associate dean for the baccalaureate program. “Her work in restorative and social justice brings an important approach to our admissions, progression, curriculum, and student outcomes. As we launch our new curriculum, she has some wonderful ideas about improving the student experience and capitalizing on our momentum to lead nursing education.” Murphy Buc joined UMSON in 2018 and has served as a course coordinator in the BSN program and as the coordinator for the Restorative Justice Program in UMSON’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing as an adult health clinical nurse specialist (with a palliative care specialty) and a post-master’s Certificate in Nursing Education from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Clayton State University in Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Studies from Guilford College in North Carolina. Murphy Buc has successfully defended her PhD proposal and is in candidacy at The Catholic University of America Conway School of Nursing in Washington, D.C. She is a Certified Nurse Educator with the National League for Nursing and a Simulation Education Leader III through the Maryland Clinical Simulation Resource. She also holds Trainer Certification from the End-of-life Nursing Education Consortium. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.