When I think about the future of nursing, what truly excites me is the vision our Vice Dean, Dr. Robert Atkins and Dean, Dr. Sarah Szanton, are championing—a vision that puts people and communities at the center of how we educate the next generation of nurses.
Recently, they shared this vision in a thoughtful feature by the Stanford Social Innovation Review. What stood out to me wasn’t just the innovative ideas but the deep care and conviction behind them. This isn’t just about updating curricula or tweaking teaching methods; it’s about fundamentally reimagining what it means to be a nurse in today’s world.
For too long, nursing education has focused heavily on hospitals and clinical settings. But the world nurses serve is so much bigger and more complex than that. Our communities are filled with diverse stories, challenges, and strengths—and our nursing students deserve to learn how to meet people where they are, not just in a hospital bed.
Dr. Atkins and Dr. Szanton envision a nursing education that’s deeply rooted in community care. One where students develop the skills to understand social and economic realities shaping health, and where empathy, advocacy, and cultural humility are as central as clinical skills. It’s about training nurses who can walk alongside people in their everyday lives, not just during moments of crisis.
They talk about a competency-based education model; a framework built around real-world skills, personalized learning, and flexibility. It’s a move away from rigid checklists and toward something much more meaningful: truly preparing nurses for the unpredictable, deeply human nature of care today.
And with the power of AI, we have new ways to bring that vision to life. Learning can be shaped around each student—meeting them where they are, helping them grow faster in their strengths, and supporting them through their challenges. It’s not just about what they know when they graduate, it’s about who they become: confident, resilient, and ready to lead with purpose in a world that needs exactly that.
What inspires me most is the call to action embedded in this vision: that we must be bold in how we rethink education, that we embrace innovation to create a system that is equitable and centered on human connection. This is not just a blueprint for nursing education; it’s a movement toward health justice.
As someone who cares deeply about advancing equity and meaningful impact through communication and leadership, I’m proud to be part of a school where these ongoing conversations are happening. Where leaders like Dr. Atkins and Dr. Szanton don’t just imagine a better future, they’re building it.
To deepen your understanding of this work, I urge you to read their recent feature in Stanford Social Innovation Review, “Reimagining Nursing Education.” It’s an invitation for all of us to think bigger about nursing education and how it can truly transform lives and the world at-large.
Because at the end of the day, nursing is about people. And the more we center that truth in education, the stronger our communities will be.
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About the Author: Dana Robinson
Dana Robinson, MA, is the Associate Dean of Strategic Communications & Marketing at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. Dana is committed to creating a more inclusive world where every voice is heard and valued. Together, let’s disrupt the status quo, challenge systems that hinder progress, champion equity, and build a brighter future.
