John Welton, Ph. D.
Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences
"I have a Socratic style of teaching and every class is a give and take - I ask a lot of questions of the students and try to put the complex patient care context using stories from my nursing career. Come to class prepared and use your time well as we have a dialog. Remember, you are learning skills and knowledge that will directly affect peoples lives."
Dr. Welton came into his nursing career through the fire department and rescus squad. He trained in NY City, graduating from Skidmore College in 1980, working his first job at New York Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit then moved to Houston where he worked in the Cardiac Care then Surgical/Trauma Intensive Care units. He had a chance to join the LifeFlight team and was a flight nurse for several years. Dr. Welton transferred to Chartlotte, NC in 1985 where he did a two year stint in the Emergency Department then a weekend option position in the ICU as he went back to school for his masters (MSN) degree in nursing administration at UNCC. His final thesis was a business plan for an air ambulance company - the number looked good so he started the company in 1989 and flew across the US for three years.
Dr. Welton decided to go back to school in 1991 for his Ph.D. and was accepted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he studied with Dr. Ed Halloran and worked in the Surgical Intensive Care unit. By the way, he met his wife in a research class - Ed was the one who suggested he take the class as an elective. He later transitioned to a research assistant job and became the ICU database coordinator at UNC as he continued his studies and dissertation. That began his interest in information technologies (informatics) and using large databases for research.
Dr. Welton's first academic position in 1999 was University of Maryland where he taught in the Nursing Informatics program for two years. It was a wonderful teaching experience but he did not like Baltimore so he transferred to the Medical University of South Carolina in 2001 and had a wonderful 9 years in Charleston. He developed a research portfolio and wrote quite a number of articles on nursing economics and nursing value. It was interesting and worthwhile being able to work with colleagues at MUSC Hospital using nursing and patient data then using the findings to help improve nursing and health care.
Dr. Welton received an email from a colleague in late 2009 about a potential dean position in Florida. He remembers replying that he was happy where he was, but after a few emails, phone calls, and lunch meetings with the interim provost at Florida Southern who interestingly had a house in Kiawah Island just outside Charleston and who had received a nice recommendation from a former MUSC student and and as they say the rest is history. He started his current position as Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences in summer 2010.
Courses Taught
Global Health; Pathophysiology; Applied Pharmacology; Adult Health II Nursing; Senior Seminar; Professional Inquiry (research); Advanced Practice Nurse III; Specialty Role
Education
Ph. D., Nursing Systems, Minor Medical Informatics, University of North Carolina, School of Nursing
M. S. N., Nursing Administration, University of North Carolina, School of Nursing
B. S. N., Nursing, Skidmore College
Honors and Awards
American Organization of Nurse Executives Foundation Nurse Researcher Award - 2012
Medical University of South Carolina Fellow of the Board of Trustees Leadership Academy - 2008
Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing, class of Dec. 2008, Golden Lamp Award
Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing, Class of Dec. 2007, Golden Lamp Award
South Carolina League for Nursing Award for Excellence - 2006
South Carolina Governor's Distinguished Professor Award - 2005
Recent Publications
Welton, J.M. (2011) Nurse staffing and inpatient mortality: is the question outcomes or nursing value? Medical Care, 49(12):1045-1046. [Invited Editorial].
Jayawardhana, J., Welton, J.M., Lindrooth, R. (2011) Adoption of NQF Safe Practices by Magnet Hospitals, Journal of Nursing Administration. 41(9), 350-360. [Peer Reviewed Article].
Welton, J.M. (2011) Hospital nursing workforce costs, wages, occupational mix, and resource utilization, Journal of Nursing Administration. 41(7-8), 309-314. [Peer Reviewed Article].
Welton, J.M., & Hill, K. (2011) Should LPNs be educated in hospitals? Journal of Nursing Administration. 41(6), 242-244. [Guest Editorial].