Hartford Funding Becomes Available at Ideal Time
Brenda Recchia Jeffers, PhD, RN, project director at Mennonite
College of Nursing at Illinois State University, describes
a campus atmosphere that was already in the process of promoting
gerontological curricular innovations in 2001 when the John
A. Hartford Foundation Geriatric Nursing Education
funding became available. In 1999, when this free-standing
baccalaureate nursing program joined forces with Illinois
State University, it underwent major curricular revision,
including significant gerontological program development.
Additionally, Nancy Ridenour, PhD, RN, CS, FNC, FAAN, who
had just been appointed nursing school dean, had already begun
using the Hartford Institute's Best Nursing Practices in
Care for Older Adults materials. She'd also instituted
faculty development activities and established partnerships
with long term care facilities.
Grant Team Creates Web Based Modules
Dr. Jeffers enjoyed strong administrative support for enhancement
of the nursing school's gerontology curriculum. She teamed
up with her associate dean, Sara L. Campbell, DNS, RN, CNAA,
BC, two faculty members, Dianne Clemens, MSN, RNC and Camille
Little, MS, RN and the college technology expert, Jeff Grabb,
BS; they in turn met with colleagues who teach all courses
in their undergraduate and RN-to-BSN programs and, employing
use of the AACN Older Adults: Recommended Baccalaureate
Competencies and Curricular Guidelines for Geriatric Nursing
Care, created 13 web-based gerontology modules.
Their tech expert proved invaluable to the process, by helping
them convert their ideas into workable modules. He developed
sophisticated software, i.e. use of animation and dialogue
in visiting nurse family meetings, and use of interactive
assessment tools to enhance student understanding of case
studies. He continually capitalized on opportunity: he transformed
an interview into digitalized chapters re: care for persons
with Alzheimer's disease.
Team Institutes Student "Geriatric Excellence Awards"
The gerontology faculty team instituted a new campus tradition:
the awarding of undergraduate "geriatric-excellence awards."
Interested students write essays in which they address their
levels of interest in gerontological nursing and their plans
to pursue it over the course of their careers. An ad-hoc faculty
committee judges the essays and determines the award winners.
Each grant year the number of student awardees increased,
and currently includes both junior and senior year undergrads
and RN-to-BSN students. Plaques are presented to these future
gerontology nursing leaders at nursing school gatherings,
especially those that attract large audiences, i.e. fall convocation
and spring graduation. Two student awardees recently attended
the National Gerontology Nursing Association's annual conference
in Las Vegas; a third awardee participated in an educational
program designed in collaboration with the faculty at NYU's
Hartford Institute.
Gerontology Resources/Activities/Decorations Enhance University
Environment
This school's project investigator used the Hartford funding
to engage participants at all levels to commit to a university-wide
culture of caring for older adults. For instance, she purchased
subscriptions to gerontology nursing journals, some of which
contained articles written by Illinois State faculty. The
journals are mailed directly to the nursing school and are
disseminated to offices, workrooms and coffee tables around
campus.
Dr. Jeffers and Dr. Campbell also arranged for JAHF-related
signs and banners to be hung around the college building;
for example, Dr. Campbell strategically placed a large, colorful,
laminated banner that states, "Preparing to Care for
Older Adults."
The school's fall convocation sponsored several gerontology-related
activities, and last year emerged as a veritable "celebration
on aging," reports Dr. Jeffers. Last year, a staff member
from the school's long term care partners spoke about her
career in gerontology nursing. Door prizes in the form of
gerontology-related books and DVD's were awarded. Faculty
displayed aging-related family memorabilia: a father's WWII
helmet pierced by a bullet hole; gloves and hat of a great
grandmother; photos of immigrant ancestors.
Grant Team Establishes Undergraduate Certificate in Geriatric
Nursing
Approved by the undergraduate curriculum committee, this
gerontology nursing certificate program is open to both pre-licensure
and RN-BSN students. In addition to completing a practicum,
certificate students must take a gerontology-related, interdisciplinary
elective; they choose most often to do so through the social
work, communications, or family/consumer science schools.
Dr. Jeffers reports that because this certificate program
includes a comprehensive exam that is not yet web based, it
has not been attracting students, for whom web based test
taking has become the norm. She also plans to better market
the program.
SON Builds Strong Partnership with Heritage Enterprises
Nursing Homes
The Hartford Foundation funding helped the nursing school
develop and tighten its partnership with this nursing home
chain. Menonnite College of Nursing and Heritage Enterprises
collaborated on two additional Department of Education grants
that aimed at developing activities to attract nurses into
long term care. As a result, the school:
- held long term care career fairs
- sent students to New York's Hartford Institute for a uniquely
designed educational program
- purchased technology for use in four nursing homes
- created a "Sister's model" whereby college faculty
and nursing home staff share resources and implement gerontology-related
teaching strategies for both staff and students
- identified nursing home liaisons to work with college
faculty toward enhancement of students' nursing home placements
- used polycom technology to broadcast video case studies
to several nursing homes.
SON Secures Related Funding
Mennonite College of Nursing and Heritage Enterprises recently
received state funding to demonstrate that newly hired long
term care nurses benefit from standardized orientation materials
and continuing education in geriatric care best practices.
Additionally, a HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration)
grant is helping this school collaborate with the University
of Iowa to establish a gerontolgically focused nursing doctoral
program.
Conclusion:
Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University
stands out for its commitment to promote gerontological nursing
education. Dr. Brenda Recchia Jeffers, principal investigator
for the Gerontology Nursing Education Project, states
that these successful efforts toward creation of a university
educational culture that values older adult care gained tremendous
momentum from the first round of Hartford funding. She and
her team members achieved this end in a variety of ways, including
use of Hartford Institute resources; institution of faculty
development activities; embellishment of partnerships with
long term care facilities; development of gerontological nursing
web modules; establishment of a gerontology-rich environment;
and receipt of additional educational funding.
Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Brenda Recchia Jeffers, PhD, RN
Associate Professor
Director of Graduate Program, Research & Scholarly Activities
Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University
Campus Box 5810
Normal, IL 61790
309-438-2349 (work telephone)
309-438-2288 (work fax)
brjeffe@ilstu.ed
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