From staff reports
USC Beaufort (USCB) has been awarded a $1 million federal grant to advance healthcare education in the region and meet the growing demand for registered nurses in the Lowcountry.
The grant project called “Increasing Pre-Licensure Educational Capacity in the Lowcountry,” is a significant milestone in expanding enrollment in USCB’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It is a strategic partnership between USCB, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, the City of Beaufort, and Beaufort County.
Key objectives of the grant project include:
• Creating a state-of-the-art Simulation Center in northern Beaufort County, in partnership with Beaufort Memorial Hospital.
• Integrating high-fidelity simulation equipment to existing nursing labs at USCB to enhance the educational experiences of pre-licensure nursing students.
• Reducing the academic-practice gap that can hinder the smooth transition of new graduates into healthcare settings.
This initiative also addresses the urgent requirement to upgrade or add high-fidelity simulation equipment, such as AI-enhanced human simulators, in USCB’s nursing classrooms on its main campus in Bluffton and at USC Salkehatchie in Walterboro.
Replacing the current equipment is crucial given its age and the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new technology will be introduced into the nursing curriculum gradually, with full implementation targeted for December 2024.
USCB was invited to apply for this grant with the support of U.S. Senator Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.). It is administered by the federal Health Resources & Services Administration Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending program.
The grant will also help the new education center at Beaufort Memorial Hospital meet healthcare professionals’ training and competency assessment needs. USCB will contribute state-of-the-art teaching equipment for shared use among the grant partners.
