Research

Kathleen Baldwin, PhD, RN Funded Projects

Advanced Education Nursing Grant: Implementing Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Funding Source: Health Resources and Services Administration

Dates: 07/01/07 - 06/30/10

Co-Investigators: Patricia Lewis, Sheryl Stogis, Barbara Camune, Connie Zak, Michelle Issel

Abstract: Illinois mirrors the nation in experiencing a nurse shortage compounded by a shortage of nurse faculty, few minority workers entering nursing, and a rapidly aging population with attendant complex chronic disease problems. With this aging population and rapid technological advances in health care comes an increasing demand for highly specialized nurses who are able to excel in complex, interdisciplinary environments and systems; provide cost-effective, evidence-based services; justify and demonstrate the quality and cost of their services; and exhibit in-depth knowledge of the systems in which they operate, in order to effect change at multiple levels of practice individual, family, community, and health care system. The purpose of this proposal is threefold: (1) to increase the size and capacity of the regions advanced nurse workforce:
midwives, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, senior public health and other
population-focused nurses, and nurse executives; (2) expand the cultural diversity of this
workforce; and (3) improve the health of vulnerable populations through a focus on residencies and synthesis projects that target agencies such as the Veterans Administration health care system, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Ryan White Title I and III health centers, and state and local health departments. As the largest and lead College of Nursing (CON) in Illinois with programs in four regions beyond Chicago, we and our partners are well positioned to accomplish this purpose and the following specific project objectives: (1) implement a state-of-the-knowledge Doctorate of Nursing Practice Program (DNP) that includes personal and systems - focused care curricula content; (2) deliver the DNP program through a blending of innovative on-line and other distance-based learning methodologies; (3) prepare clinician teachers through a series of on-line education courses; (4) with practice partners and consumers, collaboratively create and implement student synthesis and residency service learning projects that foster student
engagement in the translation of research into practice, emphasize vulnerable populations, involve multi-level (individual, family, system, and community) interventions and inform practice improvement; and (5) recruit and retain highly qualified applicants who are culturally diverse and representative of the geographic diversity of Illinois. With the aid of a HRSA Nurse Reinvestment Act grant, the UIC College of Nursing recently developed a design for a Doctorate of Nursing Practice curriculum to prepare highly specialized nurses, including public health nurses (PHN). The proposed grant will aid not only with rapid implementation and evaluation of that curriculum, but also with expansion of the post masters PHN DNP to a seamless BS to DNP for public health nurses, creation of a postmasters DNP for nurse executives, and revising a
series of education classes to emphasize the most current concepts in clinical teaching. Multiple evidence-based retention approaches and a form of dual mentoring will be incorporated into this project. Coursework will focus on evidence-based nursing practices and delivery models, multilevel behavioral change, social justice and cultural competence, and interdisciplinary learning of clinical sciences, leadership, and translational research. Evaluation of this project is focused on process (accomplishment of activities outlined) and outcome (achievement of objectives).

Advancing Public Health Nursing Education in Illinois

Funding Source: Health Resources and Services Administration

Dates: 7/1/01 – 6/30/09

Co-Investigators: Patricia Lewis, Martha Bergren, Geraldine Gorman, Cheryl Schraeder, Nancy DeVilder, Michele Issel

Abstract: As in many parts of the nation, local health departments and many private and not-for-profit integrated health care systems in Illinois no longer emphasize direct patient care. Instead, they are heavily emphasizing public health's core functions: community assessment, policy development, and assurance of access to and quality of health care services for the populations they serve. The emphasis on population focused public health and the complex skills necessary for its implementation mandates that public health nurses (PHN's) have master's level preparation and reinforces the need for access to graduate education in public health. To raise the contemporarily-defined public health competence level of the RN workforce, this project's purpose is to develop an educational track with a 'leading-edge' emphasis on population focused care and an expedient option to track from the associate degree level to a MS in public health nursing or a dual degree in nursing and public health. This enhancement will strengthen PHN leadership in Illinois by positively impacting on the knowledge and skills of the PHN workforce throughout Illinois and increasing the total program output of graduates@-particularly those from ethnic minorities and those available to serve rural and urban underserved populations. The ultimate effect of this enhancement will be to improve health and reduce disease morbidity and mortality through better public health programming. The specific objectives of this program are to 1) create a PHN graduate degree option that facilitates educational degree mobility from ADN through, the IBSN to the PHN Master's Degree or MS/NTH dual degree, 2) recruit and retain highly qualified applicants who are culturally diverse and representative of the geographic diversity of Illinois, 3) develop professional learning opportunities for local and state public health nursing preceptors and field staff who interact with students and faculty in feeder schools and colleges of nursing, and 4) expand access of the dual MS in nursing/NTH degree option throughout northern and central Illinois. Linkages with local and state health department nursing administrators, consultants from the University's School of Public Health , and PHN faculty from private universities will facilitate curricular revisior4 student clinical placements, program marketing, and professional development opportunities. The specific focus of curricular revision will be an increase in 1) evidence-based, population-focused content, 2) on-line access and distance learning, 3) service learning within local and state health agencies, 4) interdisciplinary learning in partnership with colleagues in public health science, and 5) increased content in cultural competence. Formal articulation plans with local junior colleges will facilitate educational mobility for ADN'S. Because Illinois currently has no PHN workforce plan, a State Advisory Board will be formed to address PHN education and service throughout the state. Under the leadership of a nationally prominent PHN consultant, this Board will develop a strategic planning initiative for advancing the education of PHNS. Evaluation of this project focuses on process (accomplishment of activities outlined) and outcome (achievement of objectives).