Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

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Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

Nursing and Allied Health Initiative

FY 2011- Education Redesign Grant Program Guidelines

Interim Project Implementation Report – January 17, 2012

Educational Innovation for LPNs to BS in Nursing

Fitchburg State University

Worcester State University

Strategic Goal: Seamless LPN to BS in Nursing Model that has potential for statewide and national replication

Objective 1: Launch and institutionalize the LPN to BS in Nursing track in both universities.

To date, much work has been done on this objective, as final development and acceptance of the curriculum and program is a foundation for the success of the other objectives. As a starting point, a job description for an administrative assistant was developed. After publicizing the position, an administrative assistant was hired for 7.5 hours per week. This person is the initial contact person for all inquiries about the program. The Administrative Assistant has assembled an Excel spreadsheet of LPNs who have contacted the universities to inquire about the program. Even before university announcements for the media were made, word spread rapidly. At this time, there are over 110 LPNs on a list waiting for information meetings and the application.

The NLN Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exams (ACE) I in Foundations of Nursing, Nursing Care during Childbearing and Nursing Care of the Child were administered to 15 LPN student volunteers, 5 from each of the three partner vocational technical schools, as a pilot for assessment. These national standardized exams consisted of 300 questions; the exams were analyzed and discussed for use to award credit. After discussion, a minimum score for each exam was agreed upon. The three NLN ACE exams will be used to award credits for LPN education. LPNs who score at or above the agreed-upon decision score will be awarded up to 18 credits for their LPN education. The analysis of each exam also supplied information for the development of the two planned bridge courses.

Further discussion also occurred around variations in clinical hours and experiences among the LPN programs. It was felt that the final clinical experience in each baccalaureate program could be designed to be reflective of these differences.

Three groups, maternity, pediatrics and medical-surgical, were formed to examine the content in the exams in relation to the nursing university curriculums and the vocational-technical programs. The purpose of this analysis was to determine what content is indicated for the two bridge courses being developed. Each of these three groups consisted of one faculty member from each university and a faculty member from one of the vocational-technical schools. The groups met several times during the fall semester and submitted their recommendations for final edits as of January 1. The two bridge courses will be submitted to governance at each university after final editing by the two principal investigators, Andrea Wallen and Linda McKay.

In addition, further examination of the vocational curriculums led to the decision to advise LPN students to CLEP Human Growth and Development and Nutrition. Successful completion of the CLEP exam will result in an additional 6 college level transfer credits being awarded. Further discussion about additional credits is being discussed.

A meeting with university administration at each campus was held to determine initial placement of the program. Both programs will be offered through the Graduate and Continuing Education Division. Modification of the application form is currently being completed. Additionally, an initial meeting with the Admissions Departments of each university has been held to determine admission requirements and how these students will be identified.

A press release was completed, and the official announcement of the program was made in early December. The program was announced in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette and other publications. This has resulted in a significant number of inquiries for the program.

The job description for the full time LPN to BSN Coordinator was finalized, and advertised. We are currently scheduling interviews for this position, with a plan to have this person begin work Feb. 1. This will further assist in the completion of this objective. The equipment for the coordinator has been ordered on both campuses.

Objective 2: Develop effective academic success and retention strategies.

Per the scheduled time line Andrea Wallen and Rose Veith will spend the spring, 2012 semester working on this outcome. In preparation for this work, they have both been reviewing the literature and documenting successful retention strategies. Both are also expert nurse educators familiar with student issues. They have knowledge about ATI, a nationally normed testing company which provided numerous student resources. They plan to offer an initial workshop in August for students who they determine have a need for orientation mentoring.

Objective 3: Develop a process for replication of the model.

An abstract for a poster presentation was submitted in December, 2011 to the Massachusetts/ Rhode Island League for Nursing spring conference. A response will be received in January. A second abstract for a poster presentation will be submitted late January to the St. Anselm Nurse Educator Conference to be held June 1-2, 2012. Plans for a summit of state university programs and LPN programs are underway. This summit will be held in June, 2012.

In Summary: As of this time, the project is on schedule per the timeline submitted. The scope of the project remains the same; however, judging from the continued increase in inquiries about the program in both the nursing and admissions departments at each university, the impact of this project will be larger than anticipated. At a recent open house held by Graduate and Continuing Education at Fitchburg State University, several prospective LPN graduates attended, even though the program was not advertised. Anecdotally, admissions counselors who are at admission fairs are asked about the program. At an event for nurses at the Worcester Centrum in September, half of the inquiries at the Fitchburg State University booth were about this program.

There are no budget issues at this time, nor can we see any potential barriers to success.

We look forward to the completion of this project, and the implementation of the LPN-BS at both universities providing a seamless transition for Licensed Practical Nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda McKay RN MS

Andrea Wallen, RN Ed.D.