ABSTRACT. This proposal seeks funding to improve the ADN to BSN/ADN to MSN Collaborative Education

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2 COLLABORATIVE NURSING EDUCATION CONTINUUM MODEL (CNECM) ABSTRACT This proposal seeks funding to improve the ADN to BSN/ADN to MSN Collaborative Education Model ( COLLABORATIVE ) currently being developed by the Sonoma State University Department of Nursing and its service area Community College ADN [Nursing] Program Partners (Napa Valley College, Solano Community College, College of Marin, Mendocino Community College, and Santa Rosa Junior College). The COLLABORATIVE is presently funded (June 1, 2008 May 31, 2010) by the California Community College Chancellor s Office. The enhancements, Collaborative Nursing Education Continuum Model (CNECM), include: 1) comprehensive community college and university academic and educational advising system for professional career development accessible to potential, current, and graduated ADN students (RNs) from the five collaborating community colleges; 2) nursing curriculum design for seamless degree progression and online course development; and 3) web-site development and support for online educational program planning and course delivery resources with increased accessibility for ADN students, nursing faculty, and licensed RNs in the SSU service area spanning approximately 8,000 square miles. The CNECM will be replicable, address existing obstacles that currently discourage RNs from pursuing BSN and MSN education in California, provide accessible, clear and understandable online degree program and progression planning from the beginning of [nursing] students college careers, and support course, degree advising and associated career counseling access for a geographically dispersed population of students and registered nurses in a large section of northern California. CSU CEU Proposal: Collaborative Nursing Education Continuum Model (CNECM) Sonoma State University, Napa Valley College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Solano Community College, Mendocino College, & College of Marin ABSTRACT

3 COLLABORATIVE NURSING EDUCATION CONTINUUM MODEL (CNECM) PROJECT DESCRIPTION The California Community College system is producing roughly 70% of all new Registered Nurses in the state. Simultaneously, the need for nurses with higher levels of education continues to grow to fill demands for nurse educators, nurse administrators, and advanced practice nurses (Boller & Jones, 2008). The California Community College and CSU educational infrastructures (notably, respective general education and nursing education requirements) have not been effectively realigned to provide efficient curriculum pathways for ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) graduates to further their nursing education in a seamless, efficient manner. SSU has recently made significant progress in realigning and coordinating ADN and BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) nursing content to streamline educational progression. However, the cumbersome nature of the community college CSU articulation requirements are still causing much unnecessary confusion and duplication for the ADN graduate (Boller & Jones, 2008). Current ADN students also do not have the opportunity to enroll in university upper division nursing course work although they can be academically ready and qualified to do so while still enrolled at the community college. As provided by the CNECM project, current ADN students will be able to enroll in and complete a portion of the required upper division nursing course work while concurrently enrolled in their ADN program. Such students will be able to more expeditiously complete the requirements for the BSN and/or MSN (Masters of Science in Nursing) upon graduation from their community college ADN program and RN licensure. The CNECM project also addresses the following persistent major obstacles preventing ADN prepared nurses from continuing their education to BSN and/or MSN: 1) geographic distances and/or traffic patterns to university site, 2) work schedules, 3) family responsibilities; and 4) lack of academic advising and educational counseling to meet career objectives. CSU CEU Proposal: Collaborative Nursing Education Continuum Model (CNECM) Page 1 Sonoma State University, Napa Valley College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Solano Community College, Mendocino College, & College of Marin

4 COLLABORATIVE NURSING EDUCATION CONTINUUM MODEL (CNECM) The following charts summarize how the project addresses selected objectives identified by the CSU s Creating Tomorrow s Futures: a New Framework for Action and priorities outlined in the CSU s Access to Excellence report. CSU s New Framework for Action Selected Objectives Meet California s economic and workforce development needs Increase access to educational opportunities by serving broader constituencies Develop alternative instructional delivery systems Provide personal and lifelong learning opportunities CNECM PROJECT Removes barriers for nurses to pursue higher levels of education in preparation for increasingly complex health care needs of state Markedly increases access to higher education for current ADN students and working RNs through use of online courses and web-based academic advising and educational counseling Provides for upper division nursing course enrollment online during community college nursing program Provides baccalaureate and masters degree educational opportunities to the nursing work force. CSU Access to Excellence Selected Priorities Develop multi-campus self-support programs Develop self-support programs which facilitate progress toward degree completion through traditional and nontraditional and nontraditional methods Develop self-support models for offering intersession, summer sessions, and other special sessions Develop self-support program models which incorporate distance learning technologies CNECM PROJECT Includes SSU and the five community college nursing programs in its service area (8,000 square miles) Utilizes self-support model to provide greater flexibility for degree progression specifically for current ADN students and working RNs whose needs and challenges do not fit the traditional General Fund full-time student model. Offers part-time study on a year around basis to accommodate currently enrolled ADN students and working RNs. Makes special use of intersession and summer session for current ADN students. Institutionalizes online courses and web-based academic advising and educational counseling as hallmarks of this model. CSU CEU Proposal: Collaborative Nursing Education Continuum Model (CNECM) Page 2 Sonoma State University, Napa Valley College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Solano Community College, Mendocino College, & College of Marin

5 COLLABORATIVE NURSING EDUCATION CONTINUUM MODEL (CNECM) The objectives of the Collaborative Nursing Education Continuum Model (CNECM) are to provide: 1) Comprehensive community college and university academic and educational advising for professional career development that is accessible to potential, current, and graduated ADN students (RNs) from the five collaborating community colleges; 2) Nursing curriculum design for seamless degree progression and online course development; and 3) Web-site development and support for online educational program planning and course delivery resources with increased accessibility for ADN students, nursing faculty, and licensed RNs. The following describes timelines and anticipated outcomes for each of the preceding objectives (referenced parenthetically): The CNECM Academic Advisor/Educational Counselor will prepare print and online materials for academic advising and educational/career counseling support by November 2009 (Objectives 1 & 2). The CNECM Academic Advisor/Educational Counselor will meet with and orient all SSU service area community college counselors and nursing advisors to BSN and MSN requirements (including GE) by February 2010 (Objectives 1 & 2). Website Development and Support services will consult with and provide support to faculty in online course development, pedagogical considerations, learning activities, graphics, evaluation methods, and uploading of course materials to WebCT throughout the project period (August 2009 May 2010) (Objectives 2 & 3). Website Development and Support services will provide ongoing support for online academic advising planning tools, interactive video-streamed informational and education/career counseling, and utilization of the CNECM website as an informational hub (August 2009 June 2010) (Objectives 1 & 3) CSU CEU Proposal: Collaborative Nursing Education Continuum Model (CNECM) Page 3 Sonoma State University, Napa Valley College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Solano Community College, Mendocino College, & College of Marin

6 COLLABORATIVE NURSING EDUCATION CONTINUUM MODEL (CNECM) Eight (8) units of SSU required upper division nursing coursework will be designed for web-based delivery with beginning enrollment for current ADN students from the five collaborating community college nursing programs in Summer 2010 (Objective 2). Course outlines for each module of the 8-unit package will be submitted in the project report at the end of the funding period (June 2010) (Objective 2). IMPLEMENTATION PLAN The major focus of the CNECM is to highlight and build upon the existing solid curricular strengths in both the community college (Associate Degree in Nursing) and university nursing programs (Bachelor s and Master s Degrees in Nursing) and to devote energy to the implementation of accessible, accurate and timely academic advising and educational/career counseling, to improve student degree progression with relatively few barriers and to vigorously support access to higher education resources for northern California nurses in practice, education, and administration. The five Community College Nursing Directors and faculty are involved with the SSU Chair and faculty as members of the current COLLABORATIVE Advisory Committee that functions in an oversight and planning mode to ensure that obligated progress is completed. In addition to the inclusion of at least one faculty and director from each partner, the COLLABORATIVE will convene a faculty work conference all day on May 29, 2009 for faculty from SSU and the five community colleges (approximately 40 faculty members have already committed to the program) to develop workgroups for curriculum and course redesign, joint online course development, and beginning discussions on faculty desires to teach specific components. The COLLABORATIVE has determined over the past six months that the existing ADN and BSN curricula are extremely well-aligned with changes being desirable in the BSN CSU CEU Proposal: Collaborative Nursing Education Continuum Model (CNECM) Page 4 Sonoma State University, Napa Valley College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Solano Community College, Mendocino College, & College of Marin

7 COLLABORATIVE NURSING EDUCATION CONTINUUM MODEL (CNECM) curriculum to provide engaging and challenging online content in the early required upper division nursing courses. Faculty stipends will allow for maximum community college and university faculty collaboration on the development and teaching strategies for these courses. Through this process, university and community college nursing faculty will be able to share experiences, reflect on successes and challenges, and produce expertly vetted course content, activities, and evaluation modes. One fifth of the current part-time nursing faculty already teaches at both the service area community colleges and SSU. Doctoral prepared community college faculty will be encouraged to teach in the SSU MSN program and all MSN prepared community college faculty will be welcomed to teach in the undergraduate program. The SSU service area community college ADN programs and SSU nursing share a long history of cooperative and collaborative sharing of nursing faculty which is expected to continue. PROJECT IMPACT The CNECM proposes to improve the existing ADN to BSN/ADN to MSN COLLABORATIVE by supporting critical personnel and services (Academic Advisor/Educational Counselor, Faculty, and Website Development and Support) to the project earlier than would otherwise be possible and by augmenting online course development and delivery costs for required upper division nursing course work. Enhanced funding for the CNECM project will insure: Increased opportunities for current ADN students and past ADN graduates to complete the BSN and/or MSN in a timely and streamlined fashion by systematically removing existing barriers in the educational system, making the BSN and MSN programs accessible online to a geographically dispersed population of current ADN students and RNs, and providing CSU CEU Proposal: Collaborative Nursing Education Continuum Model (CNECM) Page 5 Sonoma State University, Napa Valley College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Solano Community College, Mendocino College, & College of Marin

8 COLLABORATIVE NURSING EDUCATION CONTINUUM MODEL (CNECM) individual and group academic advising and career counseling related to nursing educational progression. Establishment of an efficient, seamless and replicable ADN to BSN/ ADN to MSN curriculum progression with the option to stop out at the BSN level that provides multiple pathways for SSU nursing to respond to the top priority community needs for more highly educated nurses to provide patient care, educate new nurses, and effectively manage complex organizations providing health care services. It also simultaneously provides streamlined MSN options for ADN students and graduates who possess baccalaureate degrees in disciplines other than nursing. Greater incentive and do-ability for working nurses who wish to continue their education while remaining actively engaged in the labor force. There are significant numbers of currently practicing nurses who report having been discouraged by what appears to be, and often actually is, redundant coursework, lack of recognition for previous learning, and greater requirements for them to achieve BSN and MSN degrees than for someone who was initially educated at the BSN level. Analysis of CSU and Community College GE requirements for nurses who begin/began their careers at the community college level validates these concerns. The CNECM will continue the initial accomplishments of the COLLABORATIVE in streamlining degree progression. It serves as a model for other potential regional CSU-Community College nursing education collaboratives that could replicate the model in their respective communities based on documented community needs. The net effect would be the lessening of perceived and actual barriers to ADN prepared nurses increasing their educational preparation and increased numbers of BSN and MSN graduates to address the looming advanced nursing practice, nursing administration, and nursing education challenges for the foreseeable future. CSU CEU Proposal: Collaborative Nursing Education Continuum Model (CNECM) Page 6 Sonoma State University, Napa Valley College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Solano Community College, Mendocino College, & College of Marin

9 COLLABORATIVE NURSING EDUCATION CONTINUUM MODEL (CNECM) The SSU nursing faculty has made an ADN-MSN program a top priority and committed departmental resources to promoting its development (filling in for the full-time chair for a semester sabbatical leave to work on this project is a significant faculty commitment). In Spring 2007, the SSU Department of Nursing determined that the ADN-MSN with the potential for stopout at the BSN was currently, and in the foreseeable future, the most important nursing education contribution that the department could make to address the myriad nursing workforce challenges we now face in California. The support and commitment of SSU service area hospitals, clinics and community college programs in establishing and institutionalizing the ADN-MSN pathway provide significant impetus for sustainability. Most health care agencies fund continuing advanced nursing education for their practicing RNs and many employ masters and doctoral prepared nurses in their education departments. Many of those individuals currently teach for the community colleges and for SSU. Academic coursework satisfies California State Regulation requirements for continuing education credit to maintain RN licensure and thus satisfies both degree requirements and professional development demands. LETTERS OF COMMITMENT The SSU Nursing Department Chair, Dr. Liz Close has had the support of SSU President Ruben Armiñana for the project as she was awarded sabbatical leave for the Spring of 2009, to develop a seamless curriculum pathway for the ADN to BSN/ADN to MSN offerings throughout the region. See Appendix A for President Armiñana s letter. The Nursing Program Directors from the five collaborating community colleges have received enthusiastic support from their presidents for the COLLABORATIVE project began in June They are equally excited to continue their support of this previously elusive goal. The CSU CEU Proposal: Collaborative Nursing Education Continuum Model (CNECM) Page 7 Sonoma State University, Napa Valley College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Solano Community College, Mendocino College, & College of Marin

10 COLLABORATIVE NURSING EDUCATION CONTINUUM MODEL (CNECM) corresponding Community College President letters of support for the CNECM are included in Appendix B. CNECM Partner community college nursing directors are: Margaret Craig, MSN, RN, Associate Dean, Napa Valley College Maire Morinec, MSN, RN Associate Dean, Solano Community College Roz Hartman, MSN, RN Associate Dean, College of Marin Sharon Johnston, PhD, RN, Director, Santa Rosa Junior College Barbara French, PhD, RN, Director, Mendocino College Matching funds are pledged by Margaret Craig, Project Director of the ADN-BSN/ADN- MSN Education Grant ( COLLABORATIVE ) from the California Community College Chancellor s Office and her letter of commitment is in Appendix C. The matching funds will be utilized for faculty stipends to support curriculum design and online course development. DISSEMINATION PLAN Plans for dissemination of the CNECM project design and results are outlined below. Organization/Location CNECM Web Site SSU `Service Area Nursing Workforce Committees California Association of Colleges of Nursing (CACN) and California Organization of ADN Programs (COADN) CSU Nursing Program Directors Oral Presentation Voice-over PowerPoint Bi-monthly meetings in San Francisco, Napa, and Sonoma Fall 2010 Joint Conference and Meeting October 2010 Meeting Written Presentation Voice-over PowerPoint Minutes of CACN-CAADN Joint Meeting Minutes of CACN-CAADN Joint Meeting CSU CEU Proposal: Collaborative Nursing Education Continuum Model (CNECM) Page 8 Sonoma State University, Napa Valley College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Solano Community College, Mendocino College, & College of Marin

11 COLLABORATIVE NURSING EDUCATION CONTINUUM MODEL (CNECM) EVALUATION PLAN The objectives of the Collaborative Nursing Education Continuum Model (CNECM) and criteria for assessment of project outcomes are described in the following chart. CNECM OBJECTIVE 1. Comprehensive community college and university academic and educational advising for professional career development that is accessible to potential, current, and graduated ADN students (RNs) from the five collaborating community colleges 2. Nursing curriculum design for seamless degree progression and online course development 3. Web-site development and support for online educational program planning and course delivery resources with increased accessibility for ADN students, nursing faculty, and licensed RNs CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT OF OUTCOMES a. print and online materials for academic advising and educational/career counseling support by November 2009 b. orient all SSU service area community college counselors and nursing advisors to BSN and MSN requirements (including GE) by February 2010 a. eight (8) units of SSU required upper division nursing coursework for web-based delivery with beginning enrollment for current ADN students from the five collaborating community college nursing programs in Summer 2010 b. course outlines for each module of the 8-unit package by June 1, 2010 c. published advisement materials reflect seamless degree progression without redundancy in GE or nursing requirements a. online academic advising planning tools, interactive video-streamed informational and education/career counseling, and utilization of the CNECM website as an informational hub b. evidence of online course development, pedagogical considerations, learning activities, graphics, evaluation methods, and uploading of course materials to internet educational platform REFERENCES Boller, J. & Jones, D. (May 2008). Nursing education redesign for California: White paper and strategic action plan recommendations. Berkeley: The California Institute for Nursing and Health. CSU CEU Proposal: Collaborative Nursing Education Continuum Model (CNECM) Page 9 Sonoma State University, Napa Valley College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Solano Community College, Mendocino College, & College of Marin

12 California State University Commission on the Extended University 2009/2010 RFP Budget Source of Funds CEE Grant Request Local Funds (Source A) Other Funds (Source B) Other Funds (Source C) Project Total (SSU Matching) (Napa Valley College) Faculty & Staff Salary & Wages (Advising/Educational Counseling) $ 17,600 $ 17,600 (Curriculum Design/Online Course Dev.) $ 12,000 $ 12,000 $ 24,000 Benefits $ 7, $ 7,788 Student Help Salary & Wages Benefits Supplies Services (Website Development & Support) $ 13,000 $ 12,500 $ 25,500 Travel (Mileage & transportation stipend) Materials Design & Printing of Brochure Totals $ 49,888 $ 12,500 $ 12,500 $ 74,888

13 BUDGET NARRATIVE One of the major obstacles identified to progression in nursing education is the lack of centralized, accurate, timely academic advising and educational counseling to support students through myriad and confusing information about ADN and BSN/MSN degree requirements. The existing COLLABORATIVE is actively addressing these particular issues and attempting to solve related individual campus as well as system-wide issues. A major area of concern remains, however, that many current ADN students and most ADN-prepared Registered Nurses will have persistent academic advising/educational counseling needs in order to successfully and efficiently navigate degree progression and appropriately plan for career advancement. The funding requested for Advising/Educational Counseling will support release time for a seasoned SSU academic advisor/career counselor faculty member to provide, year around, an average of 8 hours per week of interactive group and individual advising and counseling support for prospective students. The release time is computed at the actual cost of faculty replacement which is $2,200 per weighted teaching unit (wtu). The requested funding will provide for 4 units per semester and 8 units for the year. In addition, in accordance with SSU policy, this faculty replacement funding includes 38% benefits. Curriculum Design/Online Course Development funding will support the expert work of community college and SSU nursing faculty in teams that will address curriculum strands across the ADN-BSN-MSN curriculum. Faculty stipends will support the production of online course packages reflecting the collaborative agreements of the faculties regarding content, learning activities, course outcomes, and competency measures. Since nursing education content changes rapidly, faculty expertise from across the educational spectrum is paramount to achieving vibrant, meaningful, and challenging content for the ADN-BSN-MSN student population. The requested funds will support the design and development of four (4) units of upper division nursing content

14 required for the BSN degree at a rate of $3,000 per unit in faculty stipends; with minimal benefits, this amounts to $12,600. Napa Valley College has agreed to fund the other four needed units. With benefits, Napa Valley College s funding amounts to $12500 (see NVC Associate Dean Margaret Craig s letter of commitment attached). The CNECM is being designed as a self-support, distance education, online program to meet the needs of current SSU service area community college nursing students and employed registered nurses. The SSU service area is comprised of six rural counties covering approximately 8,000 square miles. For the student population to have reasonable access to this educational model a strong online presence is necessary. Building on lessons learned from existing and successful SSU Special Sessions nursing education models, the CNECM program requires a robust and up-to-date website home that is user-friendly, always available and loaded with content that demystifies the ADN-BSN-MSN educational progression. To achieve and maintain such a presence requires Website Development and Support that will be provided by the requested $13,000 funding as well as an additional $12,500 funding from SSU s School of Extended Education. We anticipate that ADN-MSN students will wish to enroll at SSU on a part-time basis during regularly scheduled semesters, January intersessions, and summer sessions to accommodate either their current ADN enrollment and employment responsibilities or their current RN practice employment responsibilities. By structuring on a self-support basis, we will achieve maximum flexibility for the students and also be able to fully utilize summer sessions and intercessions particularly for the currently enrolled ADN students who do not have nursing coursework offered through the community colleges during those periods.

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