NURSING EDUCATION:THINKING AND LEARNING IN A NEW WAY

Grace Saylor MSN, RN

Julie Hamilton BSN, RN

Bryan Thomas Technology Specialist

What is the problem?

Nursing shortage

Wait list to enter the nursing program is over two years

No program for students who cannot attend the day program

No flexibility in the delivery system for the current program

Solution

Different times?Different days?

How about a different delivery system…Aha!!

How Did We Get There?

There were no programs using this format in the state of South Carolina.

York Technical College made a request for a competitive Allied Health Initiative to implement this initiative.

The proposal requested funding for one full year to allow students to complete the Practical Nursing program

Getting Started

Competitive Grant was awarded Merit Entry for 24 students Distributive learning classes

Monday/Tuesday evening Campus labs and clinical experience every

other weekend during the day Student orientation to the technology

Student Demographics

TEXT

TEXT

8 undergraddegrees

6 single parents

2 EMT’s

Age 24 - 48 Travel 8 – 35 miles

18 work full time

24 Students

Addressing the Barriers

Employment Issues

Transportation

Child CareIssues

Financial Issues

Maximize Student Success

DiversityDiversity

SupportSupport

AccessAccess

Text EngagementEngagement

ConsistencyConsistency

ProductivityProductivity

What we have in place…

Digital Technology Leader #1 digital-savvy community college in the county

Center for Digital Education American Association of Community Colleges

Distance Learning Use of Learning Management System (LMS)--Web CT

Innovative Distributed Learning Methods Lecture on CD’s (Faculty Generated) Podcasting (Audio and Video)

Development of Educational Technology Specialists Team devoted to the creative ideas of instructors

Why conferencing software?

Add live/real time to Distance Learning

Extend the boundaries of traditional classrooms

Engage students in innovative ways

Promote active learning and critical thinking

The Classroom

Student Engagement

This class was recorded on August 25, 2008. It shows the Polling Feature, Whiteboard Interaction, and Critical Thinking.

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Elluminate Software

Technical Foundation Internet Connection Speed

All-bandwidth connectivity No one left behind

Compatibility Cross platform support Microsoft windows, Mac OS, Linux, Solaris

Password Protection

Support Audio Setup Wizard Diagnose problems from home

Accessibility LMS integration Provide access for all students, regardless

of location

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The Results

Twenty-four students began this program Eighteen graduated after one year

Retention Night 75% vs Day 45% 100% passed the NCLEX-PN licensure

exam Program extended for one more year

Fifteen chose to continue in the Associate Degree Program

At this point all 15 are slated to graduate in October

Student CommentsAdvantages

“Content is easy to go back and review.” ‘I save gas. This is huge.” “Being able to be at home.” “Once my daughter was sick. I didn’t have to

miss class to be with her.” “I was more at ease with this format.” “I can access my class if I am away on

business.” “Fellow students seem to feel more

comfortable to share without worrying about judgment from others.”

Student CommentsDisadvantages

“If there is an electrical storm or your computer dies, you are sunk.”

“Limited social contact.” “Not warm and personal.” “Sometimes there are delays when my

computer would act up.” “You have to be quick to buzz in with your

answer.”

What Did We Learn

Students readily adapted to this format Having the same day for the classes was helpful in creating

a schedule for their personal life This technology was easy to learn Anything done in a traditional class room could be duplicated

using this delivery system We would change some of the Merit requirements We could have accommodated all 24 students in one

session

Where Are We Going

South Carolina State Board of Nursing approved this as a PN program for 2009

We have been approved to admit 32 students for January 2009

Other Health programs are considering this format

Questions???

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