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Unit, organizational examples of excellence sought In order for the MUSC Medical Center to earn national Magnet status for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, writers of MUSC’s application must provide unit and organizational examples of excellence.   These examples exemplify how MUSC strives to support a healthy work environment, nurses, and patient outcomes necessary to achieve magnet status. High School Injury Prevention Coalition (Debbie Couillard, R.N., Division of Critical Care and Emergency Services) Trauma injuries are the leading cause of death and disability among high school-age children and in an attempt to combat the potential for injuries, many injury prevention activities exist through various Lowcountry agencies. The problem, unfortunately, was the agencies communicated little, if at all, and some research indicated that children must experience repeated exposure to intervention activities in order to curb risk-taking behavior.   To instill a new sense of collaboration among area groups with an interest in reducing teen risk-taking behavior, MUSC’s trauma nurse coordinator, Charleston County EMS, Highway Patrol, Safe Kids and the North Charleston Police Department began the High School Injury Prevention Coalition. During the 2003-2004 school year, the coalition partnered with West Ashley High School to influence and change unsafe driving behavior and attitudes of high school students concerning drinking and driving, speeding and seatbelt use.   Student seatbelt use was chosen as an indicator to determine if the interventions staged by the coalition were effective. Students were observed leaving the school at the end of a day in August 2003. Of the 817 students observed; only 47 percent wore a seatbelt.   The coalition provided monthly, multi-agency injury prevention activities that combined everyone’s resources and ideas. Because of the more effective, creative and visible network of agencies, a follow- up observation in May 2004 demonstrated a 10 percent increase in student seatbelt use.    Because of the coalition’s success, West Ashley High School invited it to remain at the school for a second year. The High School Injury Prevention Coalition remains intact and added members from other agencies.     Friday, June 24, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.