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 8 undergrad degrees 6 single parents 2 EMT’s Age Travel 8 – 35 miles 18 work full time 24 Students

Addressing the Barriers Employment Issues Transportation Child Care Issues Financial Issues

Maximize Student Success Diversity Support Access Text Engagement Consistency Productivity

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

Distance Learning Synchronous Web Conferencing Software Elluminate Live! Communication Link Asynchronous LMS WebCT Education Link

The Classroom

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

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

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 Comments Advantages  “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 Comments Disadvantages  “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???