Closing the Revolving Door: An Evidence-based Success Story Lisa Gerow RN, MSN Assistant Professor,...

Closing the Revolving Door: An Evidence-based Success Story

Lisa Gerow RN, MSNAssistant Professor, NursingChairperson, Learning Enhancement Committee

Ann Anthony RN, MSNAssociate Dean, Nursing

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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Our Story – Promoting Student Success

The challenge Growth + Retention Our students

Our Process The Evidence Our Options The Steps Our Results

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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The Challenge

Profound and growing nursing shortage Oklahoma ranks 46th in RNs per capita Additional 1100 RNs needed annually to meet

current demand Nationally – 1 Million needed by 2015 (11/14/05 – www.nurses.com)

The shortage is likely to increase due to: Decreasing labor pool – reduced birthrates and

aging workforce Intensity of services have increased demand for

RNs in healthcare

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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The Demand

Graduate MORE nurses !!!

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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Who are our students?

Typical TCC Nursing Student: Raising a child Primary wage earner Seeking new career Nursing courses require 4-8 hours on

campus, up to 16 hours of clinical + 20 hours of study & prep each week

Challenge – balancing work, family, & school

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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How well are we meeting the demand?

Enrollment in nursing is increasing Fall 03 – 233 Fall 04 – 240 Fall 05 – 281

Lack of space for qualified applicants

Semester Applicants % Accepted# Not Accepted

Fall 03 117 68% 42

Spring 04 132 58% 56

Fall 04 148 50% 74

Spring 05 149 50% 75

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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If we lack space to add students,

We must retain & graduate those we accept

Retention within the program AY00 – AY03 67% (average)

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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The Evidence: Why do we lose students?

2001 – Attrition Study Purpose: Determine any patterns of

admission criteria of students who have done poorly in the program

Process Record review “How did that student get into the program

in the first place?”

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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The Evidence: Why do we lose students?

Findings: Two groups of students n=20

GPA > 3.0 with < 40 college credits (30%) GPA > 2.9 with > 40 college credits (70%)

Few similarities within higher GPA group Focused on lower GPA group

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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The Evidence: Why do we lose Students?

Lower GPA Group GPAs below TCC Nursing admission

criteria (2.5) Avg GPA = 2.5

Multiple courses repeated Avg credits attempted = 70 Science courses repeated 2.6 (avg)

Algebra CPTs below TCC standard 77 Avg. Alg CPT 42

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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The Options – Select & Retain

Select the Right Students

Help them succeed & Stay in to graduate!!

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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The Options – Select & Retain Better selection – Admission Criteria

Focused on criteria Changed process Rank applicants based on point system,

Weighted points GPA Science > nonscience courses PCT vs. CNA Perseverance

Retain - Identify Vulnerable Students & Help Them!

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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Goal – Retain Vulnerable Students

Faculty Task Force Brainstormed ideas Impaired student policy Proposed

Learning Enhancement CommitteeLE Facilitator RoleStandardized testing – external

benchmarking Faculty development

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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Step 1: Learning Enhancement Committee

Members – Nursing Faculty, Nursing & Allied Health Counselor

Goals: Identify students & resources Offer remediation Interface with Counselor (Nursing & Allied

Health Counselor) Promote faculty awareness

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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LEC works closely with Admissions Committee

Provisional Admissions

Readmission/Reentry

Nursing Admissions Committee

LearningEnhancementCommittee

AtRisk

Students

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Step 2: LE Rep Role Volunteer, no additional nonteaching

responsibilities Accepts referrals

Previous performance – clinical & classroom Case finding – “Early Warning System”

Entrance testing Course test scores Behavioral issues

Develop learning prescription Exit interview & re-entry guidance

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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Step 3 – LE Rep Outcomes

One-to-one contact with nursing faculty Promotes dialogue, surfaces issues Thinking process vs. personal/family distractions

Behavioral checklist – measure of progress Promotes communication – with support

services Earlier referrals to counseling LER <–> Counselor <–> dSRC

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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Results - Program

Retention within the program is increasing AY00 – AY03 67% (average) AY 04 80% AY 05 88%

NCLEX Pass Rate is UP: 88 – 93%

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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Results – Spring 2004 Level 2 Student Referrals & Outcomes

Referral Reason

#

Referred

# Graduates Currently Enrolled

Previous Failure

13 7 2

Test Grades 3 3

Transfer 1 1

ESL 7 7

Stress 2 2

Late work, not focused

2 1

Totals 28 21 2

75% Graduation Rate

82%Retention Rate

++

AcademicIssues

Behavioral/PersonalIssues

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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Summary of Results

28 Referrals to Level 2 LEC 21 graduated 2 currently enrolled 4 failed, ineligible for readmission 1 lost to follow-up

The Future of Caring is TCC Nursing

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Examples & Anecdotes

Learning Prescriptions Success stories

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Conclusions: Lessons Learned

At risk students can be identified Remediation materials & resources must

be available Faculty involvement is essential