Advanced Education Nursing in Rural Communities
Beth Ann Swan, Jefferson School of Nursing; Ksenia Zukowsky, Jefferson School of Nursing; Margaret M. West, Jefferson School of Nursing; Anthony J. Frisby, Thomas Jefferson University; Mary Powell, Jefferson School of Nursing; Lori Lauver, Jefferson School of Nursing; and Alexis Marsella, Jefferson School of Nursing

DATE: February 2008

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ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT:
Poster presented at the 2008 All Programs Meeting, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr), Washington, D.C. Sections include: Introduction, Needs Assessment & Rationale, Workplan/Methodology, Electronic Distance Learning Methodologies, Preliminary Formative & Summative Evaluation

ABSTRACT:

Through support from the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions, Division of Nursing, the Jefferson School of Nursing (JSN) has expanded its Adult, Family and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner programs, currently offered at the urban Center City Campus, to the rural Danville Campus. In addition, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is offered at both sites. Expansion of the program has increased the clinical learning experience sites for enrollees and the number and distribution (race/ethnicity, age, gender) of master's and doctoral prepared nurses employed and practicing in rural and underserved areas. This project uses a multidimensional approach that focuses on: 1) implementation, 2) recruitment and retention, 3) academic and non-academic support services, 4) diversity and rural/cultural competence, and 5) post-graduation employment of adult NPs, family NPs, neonatal NPs, and doctorally prepared nurses in north and central Pennsylvania. This advanced education nursing program will: 1) position JSN as a recognized resource for master's and doctoral nursing education in the north and central portions of Pennsylvania; 2) implement outcome measures used to evaluate recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of a diverse and culturally and rurally competent nursing workforce; 3) develop retention strategies for racial and ethnically diverse and disadvantaged nursing students; and 4) insure a supply of master's and doctorally prepared nurses to offset the advanced practice nurse shortage in Pennsylvania. This approach supports the following project goals: 1) increasing the number and diversity of applications and admissions to existing master's of science programs including adult NP, family NP, and neonatal NP programs, with particular emphasis on recruiting disadvantaged and minority candidates from rural communities; 2) building a critical mass of nursing experts in both urban and rural communities by implementing a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program that focuses on educating clinical leaders who specialize in evidence-based practice and organizational change; 3) increasing the number of rural sites and precep tors for clinical practice with underserved and minority populations; and 4) increasing educational experiences aimed toward improving minority and underserved populations' access to care from a diverse and culturally competent nurse workforce (National Goals I, II; BHPr Goals, 1,2,3,4). The MSN and DNP programs meet the need for an increase in the number of professional nurses and therefore, are consistent with the legislative purpose to "prepare advanced education nurses through the enhancement of advanced nursing education and practice."