The Tanner Health System School of Nursing (THSSON) at the University of West Georgia has been recognized as one of 10 nursing programs across the country named as a 2019 National League of Nursing Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.
Formal recognition of this award will be made at the 2019 NLN Education Summit at National Harbor near Washington, D.C., in September, with a large number of nursing faculty, deans and administrators, and health professionals from recognized institutions attending.
Dr. Jenny Schuessler, dean of THSSON, stresses the school’s faculty and staff live its mission of offering academic excellence in a caring environment.
“It is rewarding to be validated in this significant manner for what we do best – educating caring nurses for practice and nursing education,” Schuessler said.
In receiving this recognition, the THSSON is among notable nursing programs and leading teaching hospitals in the country, including Johns Hopkins, Duke and Vanderbilt universities.
“This recognition is a testament to UWG’s consistent dedication to excellence in preparing nurses and nurse educators,” said UWG Interim President Dr. Micheal Crafton. “And to be recognized among such prestigious universities is certainly a credit to the efforts of Dean Jenny Schuessler and the THSSON faculty.”
Dedicated to excellence in nursing, NLN is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education, offering professional development, networking opportunities, nursing research grants and policy initiatives to more than 40,000 individual and institutional members.
Since 2004, NLN has invited nursing schools to apply to become a Center of Excellence, based on their ability to demonstrate in concrete, measurable terms sustained excellence in faculty development, nursing education research or student learning and professional development.
According to NLN CEO Beverly Malone, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, Centers of Excellence help raise the bar for all nursing programs by role modeling visionary leadership and environments of inclusive excellence.
“These programs will nurture the next generation of a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of the nation and the global community,” Malone said.
Susan Welch, associate dean of THSSON, said the school holds itself to very high standards and is not satisfied with anything less than the very best.
“Excellence means striving to do the best you can do in everything you do,” she said. “This prestigious recognition as an NLN Center of Excellence exemplifies our unwillingness to accept the status quo for ourselves or our students. We are honored to be recognized for our commitment to pursuing excellence in nursing education.”
