“Success in (Surviving) Bioscience and Pharmacology” – an eBook to improve the retention of diploma nurses transitioning to a Bachelor of Nursing course. Sheila A Doggrell PhD DSc – Pharmacology Sally Schaffer MSc - Bioscience Jillian Rowe – Learning and Teaching Developer Nina Prasolova PhD – Library Liaison

Background Diploma students transitioning into the Bachelor of Nursing are given academic credit to enter at 2nd year level High proportion of these diploma students at CB, higher number at KG These students undertake SECOND year units in bioscience and pharmacology without FIRST year background

Background In 2009, the withdrawal rates for the diploma students were high at CB and KG In 2010/11, we introduced a strategy in an attempt to improve the academic outcomes of the diploma students This strategy included an online formative activity, a skills workshop and bioscience review lectures, and was associated with improved academic outcomes for the diploma students in 2011-2012/3 This strategy was associated with reduced withdrawal rates at CB and KG

Background – CB results

Background The nursing curriculum at QUT changed in 2013/4 with the introduction of bridging unit in bioscience at CB, and the pharmacology unit being moved forward to 4th semester Consequently, we were no longer sure that the diploma students were still struggling, and needed our strategy/eBook We did not offer our strategy in 2014 or semester 1 in 2015. However preliminary investigations suggested that these students still needed support We proposed development of this strategy in an eBook format for use at QUT and elsewhere, as this problem with diploma students in Nursing courses is widespread

Academic and professional staff collaboration

Where is the evidence? Data from 2014 The first task was to collect data to determine whether the diploma students were struggling in pharmacology In 2014, semester 2, the combined withdrawal/failed rates for the diploma students at KG and CB was 20%, compared to 8% for the traditional students at KG Clearly, the diploma students are still struggling

Where is the evidence? Data from 2014 Data from 2014 suggested that the traditional students at CB were also struggling in pharmacology Thus the eBook support may be useful to more than just the diploma students May be useful for traditional students at CB prior to their pharmacology studies

What was in our successful strategy? Using the factors that have a positive impact on the retention of low socioeconomic students to prepare accelerated enrolled nurses for the science units of a nursing degree: A Practice Report. The International Journal of the First Year in Higher Education (2015), 6(1), 187-194. Abstract At a campus in a low socioeconomic (SES) area, our University allows enrolled nurses entry into the second year of a Bachelor of Nursing, but attrition is high. Using the factors, described by Yorke and Thomas (2003) to have a positive impact on the attrition of low SES students, we developed strategies to prepare the enrolled nurses for the pharmacology and bioscience units of a nursing degree with the aim of reducing their attrition.

What was in our successful strategy? Abstract (continued) As a strategy, the introduction of review lectures of anatomy, physiology and microbiology, was associated with significantly reduced attrition rates. The subsequent introduction of a formative website activity of some basic concepts in bioscience and pharmacology, and a workshop addressing study skills and online resources, were associated with a further reduction in attrition rates of enrolled nursing students in a Bachelor of Nursing

Why an eBook? Benefits Students able to do in their own time – prior to, or at start of semester Students understand expectations ‘I now know what I don’t know’ and ‘what I need to know’ Students receive some reassurance that staff acknowledge their transitional learning gaps Material tailored to needs of the cohort– unpacking the material, using plain language and simplified diagrams Material that can be shared with others Ease of updating/improving materials Avoids the use of copyright material Complements face-to-face delivery of material

Initial assessment of eBook Permission to undertake in LSB111not granted - the first unit of bioscience the diploma students do Survey of students in the pharmacology unit – the second semester unit for diploma students Poor attendance at 8 am lectures Surveyed in face-to-face tutorial classes

Survey data (Nursing students) NS40 cohort in LSB384 (n = number of students) Response Rate Percentage of eBook Users KG 360 360 (100%) 175 (43%) CB 93 91 (98%) 46 (51%)

Survey data (Nursing students) Information Introduction “Getting started” 4. “Academic Self-Assessment” 5. “Highlights from first year” 6. Quizzes 7. Overall

Still to do: Evaluation Determination of attrition and success rates for both diploma and traditional students from semester 1, 2015 (before the release of the eBook) and semester 2, 2015 onwards (after the release of the eBook) Survey of students in the LSB111 unit – the first unit of bioscience the diploma students do, preferably face-to-face As an alternative or addition, embed evaluation survey in community website

Dissemination TO DATE: To Dr Mark Symmons, OLT holder “Optimising direct entry: an online transition course for students beginning university at second year” Partnership in OLT grant TO DO: Presentation at STARS (Students, Transitions, Achievement, Retention and Success) conference in 2016 Dissemination to the other Universities that have shown interest in this project: USQ, Griffith, CSU

Outcomes from FY GRANT We have created an eBook for online delivery to diploma students Preliminary evaluation of the eBook by the nursing students is positive We have become a partner in an OLT grant