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CLINICAL RESOURCE CENTERS IN NURSING

EDUCATIONJanis C. Childs RN, PhDAssociate Professor Of Nursing

Teri Boese RN, MSNAssociate Professor (Clinical)

Welcome to the Learning Resource Center Survey! If you are the Director of a Learning Resource Center in a nursing program, you are invited to complete this survey. I hope you will take a few moments to do so.

This is the second time I have undertaken a survey about nursing learning resource centers. The results of the first survey have been published: Childs, JC. Clinical resource centers in nursing programs. Nurse Educator 27(5):232-235, 2002. For the present survey, I have broadened the population of respondents and questions have been revised based on the results from the last survey.

I hope to present the findings from this project at the LRC Conference to be held in San Antonio, TX, in June 2005. In addition, I will disseminate the results in an article. Your participation is crucial to providing accurate and comprehensive data. Thank you in advance for your help.

The study was reviewed and approved by the University of Southern Maine Office of Research Compliance. This is an exempt study. By completing the survey, you indicate your consent. Brief instructions are included on the next page. If you have any questions about the survey or would like more information, please feel free to contact me directly:

Janis C. Childs, PhD, RNCollege of Nursing and Health Professions

University of Southern Maine207-780-4063

JChilds@usm.Maine.edu

United States = 415 Canada = 7

UK = 2

DEMOGRAPHICS

• Public/Private– 75% public vs. 24% private

• Institution– Community College - 38%– University - 36%– College - 13%– Technical College - 5%– Hospital - 6%– Other - 2%

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What’s in a Name?

• Coordinator - 38%• Director - 22%• Faculty - 16%• Supervisor - 3%• Consultant - 1%• Librarian - 1%• Other - 20%

– Faculty titles, Chairs/Heads, – Lab assistant/

coordinator/manager

Position & Track

• Faculty - 58%• Professional Staff - 22%• Staff - 11%• Other - 7%

– Administrator, Dean, Both• 70% Non-tenure Track

RN13%

BS-BSN30%MS-MSN

33%

Doctorate6%

NP6%

Educ4%

Non-Nurs8%

Educational Preparation

• RN - 46%• BS - 51%• MS - 57%• PhD - 11%• Education - 7%• Other - 22%

– AS, AA– Library sciences– Computer sciences– BA

Time on Task

Months per Year• 12 months - 42%• 9 months - 40%• Other - 17%

• FT - all LRC - 39%• FT - portion LRC - 49%• PT- all LRC - 9%

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Devotion to task

Hours per week• 0-12%• 1-10 hours - 22%• 11-20 ours - 17 %• 21-30 hours - 12%• 31-40 hours - 32%• Over 40 hours - 5%

Years of Devotion

• O-5 years - 49%• 6-10 years - 18.5%• 11-15 years - 6%• 16-20 years - 4%• Over 20 years - 3%

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To Whom Do We Report?

• Department Chair - 37%• Dean - 27%• Associate Dean of Academics - 5%• Associate Dean of Students - 2%• Administrator - 5%• Other - 11%

– Associate/Assistant Deans, Directors,Program Directors

Organization Membership

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

ANA NLN AACN INACLS LRC ListServ Specialty Org Sigma ThetaTau

Educ ListServ

Organization

Num

ber o

f Mem

bers

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RESPONSIBILITIES

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100% Consult resources

Consult faculty

Administration

Evaluation of student

Teaching a lab

Remedial student teaching

Committee membership/work

Coordinate technology inprogramManage classroom mediaservicesServe as a resource for thecommunityTeaching a theoretical course

Community service

Grant writing

Serve as a resource for alumni

Research

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

• Coordinate standardized testing

• Resource management

• $

• Liaison

Did you feel adequately prepared upon assuming the NLRC

position?

Not Sure18%

Yes44%No

38%

• WHY YOU FELT PREPARED– Previous experience

• Clinical• Faculty

– Student in the setting– Orientation and

mentorship– Education– Networking

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• ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE POSITION– Orientation/Networking– Resources– Curriculum– Education needs– Faculty support– Organization– Technology– Expectations

WHAT TURNS YOU ON?

• Role• What you teach

– Curriculum• Hours (Schedule)• Who you work with

– Students– Faculty

• Mechanics

FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD or

DON’T GO THERE(Advice from those who have been)

• Networking

• Resource management

• Character traits

• Educational preparation

• Administration recommendations

BIGGEST CHANGEHoly mackerel can you believe it!

• Students

• Technology

• Position recognition

• Curriculum

• Operation of laboratory

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Name That Center• Skills Lab - 31%• Nursing Lab - 21%• Learning Resource Center - 18%• Learning Lab - 3%• Laboratory for Clinical Learning - 1%• Other - 14%The “Others” were• Simulation Lab• Clinical Learning• Nursing Resource, Science, Skills, Media Lab• “Named”- Fuld• Health Resource/Science• “Dugout”

What Does Your LRC Look Like?• Bed lab - 95%• Computer Lab - 68%• Assessm’t Lab - 64%• Videos - 54%• Print Lab - 24%• Study Carrels - 19%• Media Products - 16%• Other-rooms,

closets,simulation, Home health, peds/OB/ICU room, pharmacy

Resources

• TV/VCR 91%• Supplies 88%• Static manikin 87%• Computers 82%• Internet 76%• CD ROM 69%• Skeleton 58%• HFManikin 51%• DVD 47%

• Video camera 50%• CAI 45%• Cath Sim 44%• ECG Sim 38%• Slide projector 29%• LCD 25%• Photocopier 22%• Scanner 17%• IAVD 10%• Other 9%

Other Resources• Pumps, printers,

parts (body)• Carts, crutches,

charts, cupboards• Task trainers, texts• Models, media• Vents/Defibs

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THOSE WHO ASSIST

Work study (19%)

Faculty (27%)

Librarian (3%)

UG students (6%)

Admin Assist (5%)

Media specialist (4%)

Secretary (4%)

Me, myself, & I (17%)

Other (15%)

`

Home

BUDGETHow do we pay the bills?

STUDENT FEES27%

INSTITUTION44%

GRANTS14%

PRIVATE10%

OTHER5%

Budget Sources

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Univ College Comm Coll Tech Colle Hospital Other

Home

Cou

nt o

f Sou

rce

Cat

egor

ies

0 Sources1 Source2 Sources3 Sources4 Sources5 Sources

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

1 8 15 22 29 36 43 50 57 64 71 78 85 92 99 106 113 120 127 134 141 148 155 162 169 176 183

Annual Operating Budget

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$0

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

1 10 19 28 37 46 55 64 73 82 91 100 109 118 127 136 145 154 163 172

Annual Budget - another view Over the last 5 years has your budget……

• Unchanged - 23%

• Decreased - 53%

• Increased 45%

0%

5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%

Increased Unchanged Decreased

GRANTS

• Foundations– Private– Corporations

• Government agencies– Federal– State

• Perkins

41%

51%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Yes No

If you have student fees, how much are they?

$0.00

$50.00

$100.00

$150.00

$200.00

$250.00

$300.00

$350.00

1 8 15 22 29 36 43 50 57 64 71 78 85 92 99 106113120127

$0 00

$1,000.00

$2,000.00

$3,000.00

$4,000.00

$5,000.00

$6,000.00

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Frequency of fee assessment

Per academicsemester 63%

Per academicyear 26%

Per academic quarter 5%

Per numberof credits 6%

Are students required to purchase any supplies

that are utilized in the lab?

• Lab kits– Consumables

• Equipment– Stethoscope– BP cuffs

Yes49%No

51%

Pre-packaged kits

Yes41%

No59%

WHERE STORED

• In lab - 5.7% (of the 41%)

• Students bring to lab -

36.4% (of the 41%)

Utilization of LRC

• Nursing Only - 58% Non Nursing - 41%

• Committee?– Yes 24%– No 75%

• Weekends?– Yes 25%– No 53%

Hours Open– Range from 10-75

hours– Accessible if

college/facility is open– Only open for class

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Self Directed

• 0-10% 25%• 11-25% 20%• 26-50% 40%• >50% 10%

If computer work, percentages rise, if lab numbers fall.

• Skills Practice 87%• Remedial 48%• Study 36%• CAI 33%• Word process 28%• E-mail 25%• Social 20%• Other 7%

Courses Taught

• Fundamentals– Instructor - 71%– Independent - 0.5%– Combination - 25%– Other - 2%

• Integrative/Complimentary– Yes 31%– No 53%

• Which Ones?– Massage,

aromatherapy,– relaxation,TT,

High Fidelity Manikins

• SimMan 35%• Vital Annie 17%• METI 8%• Other

– Noelle,Gatesville dolls,VitaSims,MegaCode Kelly(s), GERI, SimBaby, various simulators

HF Manikins by Home69

13

61

25

2

27

8

29

0

9

1

11

4

18

1 1 0

24

8

20

53

1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

University College Comm College Tech College Hospital Other

Home

Cou

nts

by H

ome

Sim ManVital AnnieMETIOther

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Length of Time HFM Owned

• < One year 16%• One year 10%• Two years 12%• Three years 7%• Four years 4%• Five or more 6%

Funds for HFM Purchase• Budget

– Nursing/institution, fees• Grants

– Perkins, Foundations, Astra, Fuld, diversity retention, technology, Title II/III, Rural Nursing, D.O.D., state, county bond

• Donations– Alumni, private,

corporate, hospital auxiliary, fund raisers

• Combinations

UG Courses HFM Utilized

• One 6%• Two 16%• Three 10%• Four 10%• Five 4%• Six or > 6%

Graduate program

• Yes 25%, No 75%• Acute Care, Anesthesia, Assessment,

Flight Nursing, Educator Tract, PA, EMT/Respiratory Program

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Utilization of HFM

Other faculty Use?• Never 3%• Rarely 20%• Somewhat 20%• Often 1%• Frequently 11%

Fullest potential?• Absolutely 5%• No 29%• Somewhat 14%• Not sure 7%

Barriers to HFM

• Fear!• Faculty• The “Lacks”• Scheduling• Too many students• Scenarios

Opportunities with HFM

• Safe Learning• Student enthusiasm• Faculty/student

connection

MOST USED

Technology

Lab equipment

Simulation devices

LEAST USED

Technology

Lab equipment

Simulation devices

USE IT?

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IF YOU HAD A BLANK CHECK…

• Space

• Staff

• Technology

– Simulation

– Computer

EXTENT UTILIZED

44%

39%

15%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Just about right

Under utilized

Over utilized

CHALLENGES

• Budget

• Lab Management

• Administration/Faculty

COMMITMENT RATINGGraduate Student Committment

Excited11%

Pleased34%

Neutral25%

Displeased15%

Angry15%

Undergraduate Student Commitment

Angry1%

Neutral9%

Displeased4%

Excited55%Pleased

31%

Graduate Faculty Committment

Excited19%

Pleased29%Neutral

27%

Displeased10%

Angry15%

Undergraduate Faculty Committment

Angry2%

Displeased4%

Neutral8%

Excited57%Pleased

29%

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COMMITMENT RATING

Institution Committment

Angry4%Displeased

12%

Neutral17%

Pleased38%

Excited29%

Administration comm

Excite65%

Displeas4%

Neutr7%

Please22%

Angr2%

MOST STUDENTS ARE AWARE OF THE NLRC

Pleased12%

Neutral2%

Excited86%

MOST FACULTY ARE AWARE OF THE NLRC

Excited85%

Displeased0%Pleased

12%

Neutral3%

THE NLRC IS UTILIZED TO BRIDGE THEORY TO PRACTICE FOR

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Excited69%

Angry1%

Neutral4%

Pleased23%

Displeased3%

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THE NLRC IS UTILIZED TO BRIDGE THEORY TO PRACTICE FOR

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Pleased37%

Excited13%

Angry19%

Displeased9%

Neutral22%

THE NLRC IS INTEGRAL PART OF ACHIEVING THE MISSION OF THE

NURSING PROGRAM

Essential to Mission

Excited75%

Pleased20%

Angry1%

Displeased1%Neutral

3%

Standardized Patients

Use “Real” Patients?

• Yes 42%• No 55%

Paid?• Yes 11%• No 47%

Standardized Patients

• WHERE?– Health assessment– Crisis drill– Pediatrics– Geriatrics– NP courses

• HOW MUCH?– Volunteer

• Friend/family

– Per hour• $12-75

– Per Session• $15-150

– Per day– Don’t know

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Procedures Practiced• 86% Yes• 8% No• Procedures

– Positioning 82%– Mobility 78%– Restraints 55%– Bed baths 54%– Bed pan 47%– Injections 22%– Venipuncture 18%– N/G 2%

Procedures (other)

• Assessment Skills• Ace Wraps• Blood Glucose• Occupied Bed• Vital Signs• Transfers/crutch walking• IV Starts• “Voluntary” injection

RELEASE FORMS?• 21 % Yes• 68% No

LEGAL COUNSEL?• 13% Yes• 33% No

• RELEASE for:– All skills, invasive,

venipuncture, injections, BS, assessment

Policy and Procedure Manual

• Yes 48%• No 46%• Policies

– Conduct 45%– Hours 43%– Check out 31%– Dress Code 29%– Latex Allergy 25%

Policies

• Blood borne pathogen• Needle sticks• Affiliated hospital manual• Use & mis-use of

equipment/lab• Cell phone usage• Work Study info

• Use of SimMan• Instructional policies

on various resources• Make-up

labs/remediation• Student Handbook• Immunization• Working on one!

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Evaluation

• 58% Have a Policy• 37% Do Not• Time Frame

– Yearly– Every semester– Every 2-3 years– Graduating class– “When the program

is getting evaluated”

Final Notes/Comments

• Thanks to all who took the time to participate in the survey.

• Questions?

• Comments?

• Further areas of investigation?