| Ohio, like many states, is facing increasing demand | | | | are happening in the community that our graduates |
| for skilled health care workers as the baby boomer | | | | need to be prepared for,” Bowen says. |
| population continues to age. In fact, the statewide | | | | In satisfying the association’s current |
| turnover rate for registered nurses was 14.4 percent | | | | “baccalaureate essentials document,” the |
| in 2008, with a 4.9 percent vacancy rate, according | | | | curriculum was updated to reflect the skills needed in |
| to the Ohio Hospital Association. | | | | the 21st century health care industry. Bowen points |
| Ohio University School of Nursing is working to fight | | | | to the stronger emphasis on genetics and genomics, |
| that trend through access to affordable education by | | | | holistic patient-centered care, evidence-based patient |
| way of a revitalized distance learning program that | | | | care, implementation of end-of-life care issues, |
| provides the opportunity for working RNs to earn a | | | | emergency preparedness and disaster response to |
| bachelor’s degree. | | | | environmental factors. Collectively, these areas of |
| “When you upgrade your education, you’re | | | | focus form a teaching model that is heavy on |
| more valuable to your employer,” explains Mary | | | | technology, confronts ever-changing demographics |
| Bowen, director and associate executive dean of | | | | and seeks to promote a therapeutic relationship |
| Ohio University School of Nursing. “There’s | | | | between nurses and patients. |
| more opportunity for job growth and | | | | A Change in Timeframes |
| promotion,” she adds, “and job satisfaction | | | | Ohio University School of Nursing Professor Kathy |
| often increases, along with other factors that keep | | | | Rose Grippa explains that the school determined it |
| employees happy and increase productivity. The RN | | | | was crucial to update the length of the online courses |
| to BSN students today are the future leaders of | | | | it offered. The courses, previously offered on a |
| nursing.” | | | | ten-week schedule, were shortened to a five-week |
| The school’s revamped online RN to BSN | | | | schedule. Grippa says the expectation is that |
| program benefits students and enriches the health | | | | students will take one course at a time. |
| care industry by offering registered nurses a chance | | | | “The students take the same number of |
| to earn a bachelor’s degree from home in as | | | | courses,” Grippa says, “but the advantage of |
| little as 12 months. | | | | the five-week schedule, one course at a time, is that |
| The degree plan, designed for students who have | | | | it allows you to focus and concentrate on that |
| completed prerequisites, includes 12 courses that can | | | | particular content.” |
| be taken online from home. Each can be completed | | | | And from a technical perspective, Grippa adds, a |
| in five weeks by viewing lecture videos and | | | | change was due. Technology has advanced a great |
| participating in online discussion forums. Students | | | | deal over six years,” she notes. “We |
| can begin the program during any of eight start | | | | changed the look and length and face of how the |
| dates throughout a single year. | | | | course is presented, in addition to revising the |
| “We wanted to improve our outreach to all of | | | | content. Essentially, with the kind of information |
| Ohio and adjoining states,” Bowen says. | | | | technology support that Higher Ed Holdings provides, |
| “Since we were already in the process of | | | | it’s not hard to do at all.” |
| redesigning our curriculum, we wanted to improve our | | | | Marketplace Demands |
| platform to increase flexibility and access to the | | | | Bowen adds that the RN to BSN program also was |
| curriculum.” | | | | designed with the demands of the marketplace in |
| The university faculty worked with online distance | | | | mind. |
| learning service provider, Higher Ed Holdings, to move | | | | “We understand the need for |
| courses newly updated by faculty members to an | | | | baccalaureate-prepared nurses in hospitals and other |
| improved platform. Higher Ed Holdings provides the | | | | agencies, due to the need for improved patient |
| technology through which the nursing courses will be | | | | outcomes,” she says. “And many hospitals |
| distributed to hundreds, possibly thousands of RNs in | | | | are trying to hire as many baccalaureate-prepared |
| the coming years. Use of the technology platform | | | | nurses as possible.” |
| will enable Ohio University’s nursing courses to | | | | 1. She adds that the Ohio University School of Nursing |
| become available to registered nurses across the | | | | is committed to helping students thrive within the |
| region. | | | | system. |
| Media Rich Instruction | | | | “We really want to offer a flexible, well-priced |
| The Ohio University School of Nursing has offered | | | | education to associate degree or diploma-prepared |
| various distance learning programs since 1975, and | | | | registered nurses,” Bowen says. “And over |
| has had an online RN to BSN program available for | | | | 90 percent of nurses in Southeast Ohio are prepared |
| about six years using a different format. But, | | | | at the associate-degree-in-nursing level. This will |
| Bowen explains that one motivation behind this new | | | | provide the opportunity to advance their education in |
| version was the nursing school’s progress in | | | | a quality and cost-effective manner.” |
| revising its curriculum to the newest standards of the | | | | In maintaining the goals of the program, the school |
| American Association of Colleges of Nursing. | | | | can equip its students with the most ideal means of |
| “There are many new health care trends that | | | | helping themselves help others. |