Charleston Southern and Trident Health System have entered a partnership in providing resources to underwrite the cost needed for a new faculty position. The School of Nursing is currently one of 15 pilot schools in the country implementing quality and safety education content into the BSN curriculum. As part of this initiative, the school is expanding the skills laboratory to include high fidelity simulation technology to be integrated throughout the curriculum. This technology will allow the nursing students to learn critical thinking and technical skills prior to entering the actual patient care settings, thus increasing the safety of the patients and quality of care provided by the nursing students.

To support this expansion, CSU needed a coordinator of nursing technology and has entered into an agreement with Trident Health System to underwrite the cost associated with the new position. “The partnership between Trident Health System and Charleston Southern demonstrates teamwork and collaboration between education and practice in increasing the quality and safety of patients, and the educational advancement of registered nurses with associate degrees,” said Dr. Tara Hulsey, dean of the Derry Patterson Wingo School of Nursing.

In the agreement, Trident Health System will contribute $75,000 for three years for salary and Fringe Benefits support for one new master’s level position – Coordinator of Nursing Technology. Potential continual support beyond the three years will be negotiated during the third year based on availability of funding resources.

“Trident Health System is proud to support the nursing program at Charleston Southern University,” said Todd Gallati, President/CEO, Trident Health System. “We have an incredible opportunity to make a positive difference in the health care field, and I’m delighted we can be a part of the University’s efforts to add to their faculty and enhance their technology.”

The benefits to Trident Health System will be increased recruiting potential for BSN graduates, increased safety of patients, educational advancement for current staff of registered nurses with associate’s degrees, increased retention of current registered nurse staff, and career enhancement for registered nurse staff with dual appointment for master’s level staff and career ladder/promotion advancement for registered nurses obtaining a BSN.

During the 1970s and 1980s the University offered a successful associate’s degree in nursing program. In 1993 the Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the Derry Patterson Wingo School of Nursing. The success of the nursing program at Charleston Southern has been noted recently by a 100 percent pass rate on the first attempt on the NCLEX-RN Exam for the past two years in a row. The CSU School of Nursing is the only school of nursing in South Carolina to earn this distinction for the
year 2007.