About the Center
Katharine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership ... helping nurses advance as strong leaders and skilled partners The Center’s mission is to improve health and health care worldwide through the education, collaboration and promotion of nurses as strong leaders and skilled partners. Our vision is to be valued throughout the world for helping nurses advance as leaders. Objectives of the Center include: - Equip nurses with the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities and connections to be effective leaders and colleagues
- Provide a forum to exchange ideas and generate new initiatives
- Offer educational opportunities for nurses, other healthcare professionals and students
- Facilitate scientific inquiry and research on leadership issues
- Advance evidence-based nursing leadership.
The Center is both a think-tank and action center. It fosters nursing leadership and promotes the nursing profession through its core values of: Leadership ~ Collaboration ~ Creativity ~ Diversity The Densford Center sponsors a variety of programs to help nurses tackle today’s health care issues. Here is a sampling: - The Densford Clinical Scholar Program: Partnerships between advanced practice nurses and School of Nursing faculty to develop and conduct clinical interventions for improving patient care.
- Improving Health Care Environments for Multicultural Communities: A leadership institute to help clinical leaders create culturally sensitive health care environments.
- A Summit of Sages: International nursing conferences that examine pressing leadership and social issues through the eyes of leaders in the particular field. The most recent was held in October 2007 with Maya Angelou on social justice; the next will be November 4-6, 2009 on innovation and inspiration.
- Community Forums: An opportunity for nurses from across the community to come together and examine issues affecting health care, amplifying the nursing perspective as a resource for new care delivery models.
Katharine J. Densford Katharine J. Densford, director of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing from 1930 to 1959, was an independent and visionary woman who changed the face of nursing -- in Minnesota and across the globe. She held offices in almost every nursing organization of the time and, more importantly, she was an agent for social change. Through her influence, the School of Nursing helped redefine how leadership could benefit patients, nursing and health care. In 1997 the Katharine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership was created to perpetuate the legacy of this pioneering hero, and to assist nurses in addressing today’s challenges in much the same spirit as Katharine Densford. Today's Leadership The Center has the benefit of both an Executive Committee (leaders from within the School of Nursing or individuals who influence the practice of nursing leadership) and an Advisory Board (primarily health care leaders in the community) to provide strategic direction. A full-time Director and Program Associate comprise the staff. Funding for Center activities comes from donations, grants and tuition. Opportunities exist for undergraduate and graduate fellowships and scholarships. Links:
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