Gail Wiscarz Stuart

Gail Wiscarz Stuart is an American nurse, academic, and educator known for work in psychiatric-mental health nursing and nursing education. She is Dean Emerita and Distinguished University Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Nursing. She is known for developing Stress Adaptation Model, a nursing-oriented framework that integrates biological, psychological, sociocultural, environmental, and legal-ethical factors She is a fellow of American Academy of Nursing.

She is the author and editor of multiple editions of Principles and Practice of Psychiatric Nursing, a textbook used in nursing education.

Education Stuart earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Georgetown University in 1971, graduating cum laude.

In 2002, Stuart was appointed Dean of the MUSC College of Nursing, a position she held until her retirement in 2018.

Stuart has also contributed to discussions on diversity and inclusion in nursing education. During her tenure, the MUSC College of Nursing implemented a Cultural Competence Model of Care and published diversity-related efforts in Lifelines magazine. She continues to serve as Distinguished University Professor at MUSC and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the College of Medicine. Her research emphasizes a holistic approach to mental health care, incorporating biological, psychological, sociocultural, environmental, and legal-ethical perspectives. Her model provides structure for interpreting patient behavior and guiding psychiatric nursing care. It emphasizes a holistic view of health and wellness. Stuart's approach is used in psychiatric nursing education and practice.

Selected publications

Books

Journal articles