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Maryland Nurses Association (MNA) Annual Conference, Annapolis MD

Maryland Action Coalition (MDAC) 2024 Conference- Leadership Summit, Virtual

In response to Maryland’s intensifying critical need for more baccalaureate-prepared RNs, ������Ƶ undertook a progressive academic approach to expand its BSN-degree programs by 32 percent over a five-year period. Annual BSN enrollments in the 1^st degree program will increase from 64 to 81 students and annual enrollments in the 2^nd degree program will increase from 32 to 48 students. Additionally, curriculum restructuring of the 2^nd degree 16-month program created an option for program completion in 12 months of full-time study. This progressive academic approach will produce more nurses, accelerate their entry into the workforce, and reduce the strain on high demand clinical facilities by offering select summer clinical courses when there are fewer requests for student clinical placements.

Program growth and curriculum revision required additional faculty, instructional design, and simulation-related resources, as well as identification of facilitators and barriers to student success. A progressive approach to these challenges resulted in support for expanded use of standardized patient experiences and use of high-fidelity manikin-based experiences to support increased enrollments in all ������Ƶ BSN programs. Additionally, the creation of Flex Clinical Faculty positions afforded hiring of part-time 12-month contractual clinical faculty working between one and five days per week. Emphasis for initial hires included expertise in three accelerated summer clinical courses of Psych-Mental Health Nursing (three credits over 10 weeks), Community Health (three credits over five weeks), and Leadership Practicum (two credits over five weeks). In addition to students completing over 335 hours of clinical over 10 weeks of summer, eight credits of ‘paired’ theory courses were taught by experienced faculty. Each accelerated summer theory course was revised and offered through distance delivery compliant with QualityMatters™ standards. Identification of factors associated with successful student outcomes in this 12-month curriculum were identified through qualitative data collected through IRB-approved 1:1 interviews with students in the initial cohort. A total of five interviews per student were completed. Aggregate data was themed and has been used to inform and modify approaches to program changes in subsequent years throughout ������Ƶ Nursing programs, including 12-month applicant interview questions and summer course pedagogy.

45th Biennium Sigma Theta Tau International , Washington, DC