Breaking Down Barriers to Veteran Student Success John W. Collins, PhD(c), RN Beverly Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN

The Idea: A State University with worldwide recognition assisting military veterans transitioning into civilian life and academia to pursue professional nursing careers

The Funding: Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration

The Team: Dr. Beverly Jones, PI, Nursing Faculty, Veteran US Army Nurse Corp. John Collins, Program Mgr. Lisa Pagano-Lawrence, Administration Nicole Altheide, Advisor

The Task: Develop a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program for veterans that allows for and maximizes credit for prior military education

The Purpose: UM-Flints’ VBSN project builds healthy communities by strengthening the healthcare workforce through recruitment, successful matriculation, licensure and employment of US Veterans into Professional Nursing

R N The Mission: Military veterans building on prior education and transitioning to nursing careers in a Veteran’s BSN program guided by the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice

The Need: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nursing (RN) is listed among the top occupations in terms of job growth through 2022. The RN workforce is expected to grow from 2.71 million in 2012 to 3.24 million in 2022, an increase of 526,800 or 19%.

If you doubt the BLS, Health Resources and Services Administration’s Bureau of Health Workforce predicts the nationwide demand for RNs, is projected to grow by a 21 percent increase through 2025. So the experts agree, we are still in a nursing shortage in the US, that is not going away soon.

The Methods: Integrate credit for prior learning (CPL) strategies into new veteran student admission and advising, as well as evaluating Joint Services Transcripts (JSTs) and every college transcript to maximize transfer credit

Credit Equivalency Committee: Dr. Richard Redman Dr Credit Equivalency Committee: Dr. Richard Redman Dr. Sandra Webb-Booker Mr. John Davidson Mrs. Margie Murray-Wright Dr. Beverly Jones

The Culture Shock Military: Teamwork, comradery, accomplish the mission Academia: Individual effort, loss of team initiate, good enough is OK

…more culture shock: Veterans have been taught that “No” means no, without challenge; but a “No” answer in academia usually means you have not found the correct office as many issues can be resolved in the petition process

The Challenge: Some faculty and staff in higher education scorn patriotism, altruism, and service to country, creating closet veterans

…more Challenges: Post Traumatic Stressors that may impact veteran students, but appear to faculty as inattentiveness or lack of interest. Veteran students often do not self-identify therefore do no not ask for accommodation for test anxiety, week-end reserve commitments, etc.

The Program: Services-Transition enrichment and support services, course tutors, writing assistants, competency assessments to identify remediation needed

Relationship-The VBSN Office serves as a “One stop shopping” point for our veteran students. We have developed a rapport such that they come to us, before seeking other’s help. Our veteran students often stop in our office just to talk, some have shared with us “I feel more acceptance by the staff in the VBSN office than anywhere else on campus”

The Results: VBSN Cohort 1: Sept. 2015-Five male veterans VBSN Cohort 2: Sept. 2016- Seven female and two male veterans VBSN students have previously served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Army National Guard VBSN students have relocated from as far away as CA

… more Results:

… more Results: VBSN Program has secured Early Assurance admission for 10 veteran students (out of a total cohort of 40) UM-Flint now accepts credit for UExcel Excelsior College Examination Program (credit by exam) VBSN staff has facilitated two Faculty Development programs, with more to follow

… more Results: Number of program relevant transfer credit hours awarded to VBSN students that were not previously recognized by UM-Flint: 113 + The VBSN team has successfully advocated for veteran students to be awarded transfer credit for prior learning in Health Assessment & Pharmacology

The Future: Additional military courses will continue to be assessed for relevant course equivalency NCLEX-RN pass rates will be monitored The VBSN team will support new graduates for 12 months after graduation to employment

Barriers Addressed Maximizing Credit for Prior Learning Barriers Addressed Maximizing Credit for Prior Learning New courses for transfer equivalency Military course evaluation for content Compressed Curriculum-continuous benefits Faculty enrichment-challenges faced by vets Culture change from military to academe Challenges to military core beliefs-patriotism Veteran student support services

Selected References McReynolds, J. (2014, March). Lessening the culture shock: Military life vs. student life. Retrieved April 6, 2016, from Academic Advising Today: Voices of the Global Community website: http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Academic-Advising-Today/View-Articles/ Lessening-the-Culture-Shock-- Military-Life-vs-Student-Life.aspx Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Registered Nurses. (2015, December 17). Retrieved April 6, 2016, from Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor website: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered- nurses.htm Rumann, C. and Hamrick, F. (2010). Student veterans in transition: Re-enrolling after war zone deployments. The Journal of Higher Education, 81(4), 431-458. Vacchi, D. (2012). Considering student veterans on the twenty-first century college campus. About Campus (May- June 2012), 15-21 DOI: 10.1002/abc.21075 This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UF1HP26979, Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention—Veterans Serving Veterans: The University of Michigan- Flint Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program for Veterans for $1,035,056. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

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