Above: Brenda Douglas, dean of Tulane’s new nursing program. Photo by Jason Cohen

After Brenda Douglas retired as assistant dean of undergraduate programs at Northeastern University’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences in Boston, she was envisioning spending most of her time with her four children and six grandchildren in New England. About a month later, she received an intriguing call from Tulane University.    

The call was from a consultant exploring potential candidates for dean of Tulane University’s new nursing program, a collaboration between the School of Medicine and the School of Professional Advancement (SoPA). 

“This was a brand-new program,” said Douglas, who holds a PhD in nursing. “I immediately saw the value and the distinctiveness of a program like that, and I was excited for the opportunity.” 

As dean, she would develop the program, hire faculty and staff, and oversee the application process for the program’s first class in the fall of 2024. She also liked Tulane’s emphasis on community.  

When she received the official job offer, she and her husband agreed this was the right move. And just like that, she was in New Orleans beginning the challenging yet rewarding task of developing the nursing program.  

Nearly 18 months later, Douglas couldn’t be happier with her decision to move south. “It’s been a really fun venture,” she said. “Everyone across the university embraced me from the minute I got here.” 

She also heard from fellow nursing deans. “They view us as partners rather than competition,” she said. “There is a genuine desire in Louisiana and New Orleans to put more nurses in the workforce.” 

Nurses in demand

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the market demand for nurses will grow 9% through 2030, with approximately 194,500 openings each year, on average, over the next decade. In Louisiana, the state Board of Regents estimates there will be a shortfall of approximately 6,000 registered nurses — 40% of the current workforce — by 2030. The demand is partially due to the expanded roles of nurses in primary care, home health services and other nontraditional settings, Douglas said.  

Tulane’s accelerated, four-semester program combines a rigorous curriculum with hands-on learning. Students will practice technical skills and test their critical thinking and clinical judgment with real-time feedback. Students will complete hundreds of hours of education in clinical settings at Tulane’s local hospital and health care partners. They will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.  

For now, the program is housed at the School of Medicine’s Murphy Building but will eventually move to its permanent location at the one-time Tulane Medical Center building, now under renovation. In announcing the program in December 2023, Tulane President Michael A. Fitts called it a central part of the more-than-$600 million investment that Tulane is making to reimagine downtown New Orleans as a national hub for medical education and discovery. 

Dr. Lee Hamm, dean of the Tulane School of Medicine, said Douglas’ experience, personality and organizational skills made her the perfect fit for the job. He said it’s one thing to take over an established program, another thing to create one.  

“We needed an expert in nursing education and her credentials certainly demonstrated that,” he said. “But she’s really proven to be adept at all the organizational skills it takes in terms of developing a new program. Despite the challenges, she dove right in with great optimism and an engaging personality.” 

Dedicated from the start

Douglas can trace her interest in nursing to her toddler years when she would dress up as a nurse for Halloween. In elementary school, she had some health issues, necessitating regular visits to the doctor’s office. “I always enjoyed talking to the nurses and was interested in what they were doing,” she said.  

That interest soon became a passion. She received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Eastern Mennonite University, followed by a Master of Science in nursing with a focus on education, administration and informatics. In 2012, she earned a PhD in nursing from Northeastern University. 

After working as a registered nurse for several years, she transitioned to leadership roles in long-term and rehabilitative care, serving as staff development director, assistant nursing services director and nursing services director across three health care centers. Prior to Tulane, Douglas was an associate clinical professor at Northeastern University for more than 20 years, filling multiple roles, including assistant dean for undergraduate programs.   

Douglas said the opportunity to develop a nursing program from the ground up was something she couldn’t refuse. In the nearly 18 months since she arrived at Tulane, she and her team have built a “high quality, excellent program that will produce amazing nurses.” 

“We know we need nurses here in Louisiana. We need nurses nationally, but one of the things we’re trying to do is purposefully focus on community engagement,” she said. “I want students to come here and feel so connected to New Orleans and Louisiana that they want to stay here.” 

Douglas’ focus on engagement shines through as the program takes shape, said SoPA Interim Dean Ilianna Kwaske.  

“Dr. Douglas’ collaborative spirit and leadership have been instrumental in the launch of our new nursing program,” Kwaske said. “By working closely with multiple stakeholders, she has shown dedication to excellence and innovation while fostering partnerships that enhance educational opportunities and health care outcomes.” 

There are three start dates per year beginning in August. Prospective students can learn more about the program and/or apply at the Tulane Nursing website.