Part of the Solution

Kristen Swanson, dean of the College of Nursing, has been elected to the board of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

AACN is the national organization that serves as both the architect and standard-setting body for nursing education at the baccalaureate through doctoral levels. It represents more than 750 schools of nursing at public and private institutions nationwide. 

"As a board member I will bring with me experience serving in exemplary public and private universities," said Swanson. "The need for nurses and nurse practitioners is on the rise because of the aging of our population, the number of chronic health problems that Americans live with, and the increased number of people who finally have access to health care through the Affordable Care Act. 

"Our country faces an insufficient supply of nursing faculty and a shortage of clinical site placements for student learning. Now, more than ever, we need to figure out ways to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of educating the next generation of nurses. I look forward to serving on the board of AACN and, hopefully, becoming part of the solution." 

Prior to joining SU in 2014, Swanson served as dean and Alumni Distinguished Professor at the School of Nursing at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and held a variety of academic roles at the University of Washington, University of Pennsylvania, and Trenton State College. A noted scholar, Swanson is well-known for her research on pregnancy loss and the Swanson Theory of Caring, which is used internationally as a guide for research, education and practice.