Dr. Lorelli Nowell
Dr. Lorelli Nowell is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Nuring at the University of Calgary and she currently holds a Teaching and Learning Research Professorship. She is passionate about teaching and learning and her emerging program of research focuses on studying innovations in teaching and learning, the professional learning and development of educators, and mentorship to support teaching and learning practices.
Dr. Sandra Davidson
Dr. Sandra Davidson was appointed as Dean of the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary in August 2018. She is well known for her entrepreneurial thought and creative innovation.
Dr. Eloise Carr
Dr. Eloise Carr is and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Nursing and the previous Associate Dean (Students) in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Calgary. A nurse by background, she is strongly committed to improving pain management through interprofessional practice.
Abstract
Today’s complex healthcare environments are challenging higher education institutions to advance nursing science, innovation, and impact to create substantive change to nursing practice and the development of future nursing leaders. Nursing graduate students need to develop leadership and innovation skills to help create and implement innovative, transformative solutions and evidence-based interventions. However, the present-day education of graduate nurses may not adequately prepare them for entrepreneurial approaches to problem solving required in today’s complex healthcare environment. To educate and inspire the next generation of nursing leaders to address pertinent and pressing issues in the healthcare system, innovative and experiential teaching and learning opportunities are needed. In an attempt to fill this gap, we designed, implemented and evaluated a Healthcare Grand Challenge course for graduate nurses interested in developing their leadership skills. The Healthcare Grand Challenge course invited graduate nursing students to collaboratively formulate a bold and innovative proposals to address a systemic healthcare problem. Following the course, graduate nursing students were invited to participate in research exploring their experiences and perceptions of the Healthcare Grand Challenge course and identify how they may use the knowledge and skills developed through the course to grow their leadership practices.
Publication
Nowell, L., Dhingra, S., Andrews, K., Gospodinov, J., Liu, J., Hayden, K.A. (2020) Grand challenges as educational innovations in higher education: A scoping review of the literature. Education Research International. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/6653575