responding to the need for nurses: a pilot project healthcare share spring conference april 7, 2006

Responding to the Need for Nurses:

A Pilot Project

Healthcare Share Spring ConferenceApril 7, 2006

It’s in the news…and it’s happening everywhere

Nursing Shortage--a world

wide problem!

FYI - Nursing Shortage

Nursing Shortage LoomsHealthcare Leaders Grapple With Workforce Issues

The nursing shortage in Virginia

Nursing ShortageNursing is the nation’s

hottest job and that status is unlikely to

change for at least a decade, according to

new government employment statistics.

What's the scoop on the nursing shortage?

Partnering for Excellence in Health Careers Education

Vision Statement: Harper College Health Career programs

Project goals

• To provide the Nursing Program curriculum in a flexible, responsive, and accountable manner to community partners.

• To provide on-site healthcare core courses that will improve career pathways within the agencies.

Harper College’s Role

• Offer fully accredited Nursing Program in a manner that supports the healthcare worker

• Offer Health Science Core courses on site at partner hospitals

• Use standard procedures and protocols

• Provide on-site advising• Hire and facilitate contracts for

faculty

Hospital Partners’ Roles

• Provide clinical sites for students in all areas of the curriculum

• Support their participating employees

• Cost-sharing with Harper College

Collaborative Efforts

• Determine academic calendar and class schedule

• Seek grant funding

Critical Skills Shortages Initiative (CSSI)

• July ’04 CSSI application with plans to address the healthcare skill shortages

• Nov ’04 awarded $150,000 for initial cohort (i.e., faculty, lab supplies, lab support, advising,

licensing fees) • July ’05 awarded additional funding• March ’06 awarded second year

funding for initial cohort

Implementation:Nursing Program

Nursing Program Expansion

•Began March 4, 2005

•Classes/lab at Harper College every Friday, 9-5

•Clinicals at NWH and SAMC every other Sat/Sun

•Complete LPN January 2006

•Complete RN December 2006

Nursing Program Expansion

• Admission

3/05 Admitted 20 qualified applicants from the partner hospitals. Priority given for having more general education courses complete.

• Curriculum Offered NLNAC accredited IDFPR approved program

Nursing Program Expansion

• FacultyHired one fulltime faculty and one adjunct faculty

• Theory/Lab/Clinical instructionAdapted to FRI/weekend format

• Lab supplies/supportLab assistant and peer tutors hired

Nursing Program Expansion

• AdvisingAcademic and nonacademic advising/counseling

• AttritionQualified students prepared to join this cohort

• LicensingExit exam and licensing fees paid by the grant

Implementation:On-site Health Science Core

On-site Health Science Core Courses

• 5 Classes offered on site at a preferred day and time for participants

• Courses:– Computer Usage in Healthcare– Introduction to the Health Care Field– Medical Terminology– Health Care Law and Ethics– Pharmacology

On-site Health Science Core Courses

• The courses offered are part of a group of core classes and are prerequisites into several career programs at Harper College

• Curriculum is identical in objectives to on-campus classes but adapted to surroundings

On-site Health Science CorePotential Careers

• Cardiac Technologist

• Nursing• Dietetic

Technician• Health Insurance

Specialist• Radiology

Technologist

• Diagnostic Sonography

• Health Care Secretary Certificate

• Etc.

On-site Health Science Core

• Began March 2005 with 20 participants from each site.

• Classes at NWH at 4pm on Tues/Thurs

• Classes at St. Alexius at 5pm on Mon/Wed

• Classes ran consecutively with little time off (July 4th week, etc.)

• Completed all 5 classes December 2005

Health Science Core

• FacultyAdjunct faculty were used, including some hospital staff from the site

• AdvisingAcademic and nonacademic advising/ counseling were held on-site, on-campus, and telephonically/ electronically as applicable. Topics included test taking skills, memorization techniques and career pathing

Health Science Core Retention

• 23 completed all 5 classes

• 31 completed at least 4 classes

• 35 completed at least 3 classes

• 38 completed at least 2 classes

Program Evaluation:Methodology and Results

A multi-method research strategy

• Survey of Current Students

• Other Student Information– Course grades– Usage of Advising and Counseling

services

• Exit Interview of Non-Continuing Students

• Supervisor Assessment of the program

Survey of Current Students

• What students liked best about the program

• Satisfaction with facets of instruction

Survey of Current Students: Results

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

Other

Program looks good on my resume

Finishing the program should help me advance in myjob

Learning things that are helping me to do my job better

Classes are challenging

Classes are interesting

Classes fit with my activities/responsibilities outside ofwork

My supervisor supports the program

Classes fit with my work schedule

What Students Like Best About the Program

HSC NUR

Survey of Current Students: Results

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

% Satisfied/Very Satisfied

Support services

Scheduling of classes

Location of classes

Lab and clinical experiences

Textbooks and other materials

Relevance of what you’re learning

Instructors

Fac

ets

of I

nst

ruct

ion

Students Satisfied/Very Satisfied with Program

HSC NUR

Student Information

• Grades

• Advising & Counseling

• Application to other Healthcare programs (HSC students only)

Student Information: Grades

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Percen

t A

ward

ed

A B C D F W

Grade

Percentage of Grades Awarded

Overall

NUR

HSC

Student Information: Usage of Advising and Counseling Services

• Harper’s advisors have had approximately 240 student contacts since the program started

• Student contacts include individual counseling sessions, group counseling sessions, and informal discussions Approximately 80% of the contacts occurred during scheduled group sessions

• Most of the contacts (nearly 90%) occurred in the first semesters of the program

Student Information: Application to Other Health Programs

• Among the HSC students, 8 have already applied to Harper’s limited enrollment health careers programs:– 5 have applied to Nursing– 2 have applied to Radiologic

Technology– 1 has applied to Sonography

• Admissions decisions are pending

Exit Interviews: Results

• Exit interviews are ongoing, have been conducted with 9 students

• They left the program due to their schedules, test-taking skills, and other events in their lives

Supervisor Assessment

• Current impact of the programs

• Expected future impact

• Should the programs continue

Supervisor Assessment: Results

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Other

Employee knowledge

Employee skills

Employee motivation

Employee morale

Scheduling employees for work

Program Impact

No impact Negative impact Slight positive impact Dramatic positive impact

Supervisor Assessment: Results

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Other

Employee retention

Employee knowledge

Employee skills

Employee motivation

Employee morale

Future Impact of Programs

Don’t know Not likely Maybe Yes

Supervisor Assessment: Results

Should Programs Continue?

96%

4%

Yes

Undecided

No

Supervisor Assessment: Results

• Supervisors believe that employees are getting a lot out of the program

• Supervisors noted the importance of retaining employees after they finish the program– retention of skilled employees is always

an issue– they believe that retention is more likely

under this structure than traditional classes

Summary• Students are engaged in the program: 84 to

98% were satisfied or very satisfied with each rated aspect. The program fits their schedule, prepares them for a career, and is interesting

• Students are successful in the program: overall nearly 50% are getting As in their classes; 94.5% are passing their classes

• Few students are exiting the program; those that do indicate a desire to return when circumstances allow

• Supervisors are already seeing some positive results in employee morale, motivation, knowledge, and skills, and expect to see more positive impact in the future

Lessons Learned

Successes and Challenges

Successes• Student satisfaction• Partner collaboration• Employee morale• College resources and staffing• Increased numbers of licensed nurses• Increased numbers prepared to enter

other allied health care programs

Successes and Challenges

Challenges• Short turn around for funding request• Impact on other college departments• Timeliness of tuition reimbursement• Weekend schedule

• Access to ancillary services on the weekend• Student/faculty connection to the college

Successes and Challenges

Challenges• Securing staff

schedule salary

• Acceptance of change and recognition that things can be done differently

• Ongoing funding support

Next steps

Remaining timetable for pilot project - Nursing

Friday/weekend cohort (n=20)– March/April 2006 – anticipated LPNs– December 2006 – anticipated RNs

Next steps

Remaining timetable for pilot project – Health Science Core

• 2 new cohort groups started in January at NWH and SAMC with another 40 participants. Course involved are:– Computer Usage in Healthcare– Introduction to the Health Care Field

– Medical Terminology

• Added partner in Good Shepard Hospital with new cohort in Health Science Core

Next steps (cont.)• Sustain and initiate new partnerships

• Continue dual admission into Nursing Program

• Increase enrollment in Nursing Program

• Continue on-site offerings of health science core courses

Contact Information

Harper College Web site www.harpercollege.edu

Peg Gallagher, Director of Grants & Strategic Initiatives pgallagh@harpercollege.edu

Joe Baumann, Manager Academic Research Services jbaumann@harpercollege.edu

Elizabeth Pagenkopf, Chair Health Science Core epagenko@harpercollege.edu

QUESTIONS??

Thank you