1. “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

2. 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

3. 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 /3
This strategy was associated with reduced withdrawal rates at CB and KG

4. Background – CB results

5. 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 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

6. Academic and professional staff collaboration

7. 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

8. Where is the evidence? Data from 2014
Data from 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

9. 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),
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.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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%)

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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