Closing the Revolving Door: An Evidence-based Success Story Lisa Gerow RN, MSN Assistant Professor, Nursing Chairperson, Learning Enhancement Committee

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


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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


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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


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The Demand

Graduate MORE nurses !!!


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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


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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


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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)


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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?”


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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


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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


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The Options – Select & Retain

Select the Right Students

Help them succeed & Stay in to graduate!!


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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!


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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


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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


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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


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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


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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%


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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


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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


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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

Documents

Closing the Revolving Door: An Evidence-based Success Story Lisa Gerow RN, MSN Assistant Professor, Nursing Chairperson, Learning Enhancement Committee