From faculty members inventing new tools to help students learn the intricacies of treating heart defects in infants to opening up pathways to nursing careers for people with disabilities, the University of South Carolina College of Nursing is stepping up every day.
In classrooms, hospitals, schools and physicians’ offices, Gamecock nurses are an integral part of the state and nation’s health care system. The effort includes the work by the College of Nursing to fill the growing demand for skilled nurses, with nearly 900 nursing degrees awarded by the USC system each year. Over 12,500 nurses have graduated from the College of Nursing since it became the state’s first nationally accredited baccalaureate nursing program in 1957.
And the nurses earning their degrees from USC are some of the best prepared in the country. The college’s undergraduate program ranks in the Top 10 percent nationally, and the university’s nursing students are in the Top 1 percent in the U.S. for their pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam. In January, four online nursing programs at USC were ranked in the Top 10 nationally in the latest rankings from U.S. News and World Report, including a No. 2 ranking for the online nursing program.
Here are the stories of just a few of the efforts of students, faculty, alumni and university leaders to advance nursing education and help meet the health care needs of the state and nation.
Heart defects affect about 1 percent of all babies born in the United States each year – about 40,000 births. Nurses working in pediatrics or the ER are going to encounter a child with some type of heart defect or failure, so understanding the signs and knowing how to react is important, says Stephanie Schaller, an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina College of Nursing.
That’s why neonatal circuation is in the curriculum for all BSN students. And it’s why Schaller invented a new tool that lets students learn about infants’ heart defects through hands-on activities.
The tool — CardioEducatorTM — is now in use at both USC Columbia and USC Upstate and was recognized by the 2025 South Carolina InnoVision Awards as a finalist in the education category.
learn about the CardioEducator
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States, but women often face delays in receiving a cardiovascular diagnosis.
Jewel Scott, a board-certified family nurse practitioner and College of Nursing faculty member, says young women are more likely to be turned away from an emergency room because practitioners mistake their symptoms for something else.
Scott is working to bridge that gap, trying to understand how the how the health care system identifies and addresses cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, in young adult women. Her research looks at cardiovascular disease in women, particularly young women of color, along with improving how heart health information is communicated to young women.
Read more about faculty research
Paige Canady, a nursing major and recent graduate of the South Carolina Honors College, turned her honors thesis into a cleverly illustrated children’s book to help spread understanding about type 1 diabetes.
The Sweetest Halloween is the story of a boy diagnosed with type 1 diabetes shortly before his favorite activity — trick-or-treating at Halloween. Canady, who is especially drawn to the patient education aspect of nursing, says the book is intended to help children with type 1 diabetes better cope with a condition that requires daily monitoring.
After taking the licensure exam in January, Canady will move to Memphis, Tennessee, for her first job as an RN at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Explore the new children's book
The College of Nursing continues to drive transformation in nursing education, innovation and health care delivery across the state and beyond.
At the heart of this momentum is the launch of South Carolina’s only accredited nurse-midwifery education program. Led by Jennifer Baumstark, the program addresses a critical maternal health need and prepares nurses to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care throughout the lifespan — from prenatal to primary care.
This new graduate pathway provides accessible, online training for registered nurses. A statewide network of clinical partnerships — including Prisma Health, the USC School of Medicine Columbia and 10 midwifery practices across South Carolina — will provide hands-on training and support.
more about new learning pathways changing care
Mother-daughter duo Casey Cline and Andrea Johnson reached a shared milestone in Spring 2025 — both earning MSNs in healthcare leadership and nursing education, respectively. Their journey reflects a powerful bond and shared passion for nursing and lifelong learning.
“We are born Gamecocks. I have always wanted a degree from here. I want to change the future for nurses, and that means leadership. The online nursing program has a great reputation, so I knew their healthcare leadership track would help me reach my goal.” – Casey Cline, mother
“The university has always felt like home. Enrolling together meant built-in accountability partners, double the school spirit and one unforgettable family milestone.” – Andrea Johnson, daughter
South Carolina has one of the highest disability rates in the country, yet individuals with disabilities remain significantly underrepresented in health care roles.
The College of Nursing is looking to change that statistic. Backed by The Duke Endowment, the College of Nursing is launching a multi-year initiative to increase pathways into nursing for people with disabilities. The effort is led by Susan Newman, Health Sciences Endowed Chair, in collaboration with Able SC, Lexington Medical Center and the National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities.
“I’ve seen firsthand the invaluable expertise and perspective they bring — not just as patients, but also as advocates, innovators and leaders,” Newman says. “What makes the project especially powerful is that it’s being co-designed and implemented with people with disabilities, not just for them.”
pathways into nursing for people with disabilities
When nursing junior Allison Wiebking came to the University of South Carolina, she wanted to build connections with people in the health care field. Joining the Galen Health Fellows living and learning community in Patterson residence hall provided the perfect opportunity to do that.
“After graduation, I plan to become a nurse in a hospital setting. Galen Health Fellows has helped me obtain the certifications that are needed for nursing school as well as provide additional experience with the skills that are needed in health care. I have also been able to connect with nursing upperclassman who mentored me and eased my stress that was associated with the nursing school application process. Finally, through leading my own mentorship group, I realized that I love to teach and relay my experience to other younger nursing students.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT GALEN HEALTH FELLOWS
Learn more about the USC College of Nursing and health sciences at the university.
