|
Problem:
Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and their families require advanced practice nurses with leadership and policy skills to promote interdisciplinary, family-centered, culturally competent care, reducing health disparities in diverse, underserved communities nationally
Goals and Objectives:
Goal 1: Develop nurse leaders in pediatric special needs in the masters (MS), post-masters (P-MS), and doctoral (PhD and DNP, Doctor of Nursing Practice) programs.
Objective 1: Admit at least 15 nurses, including nurses of diverse backgrounds, who are committed to CSHCN and underserved MCH populations (3 per year).
Objective 2: Advise, mentor and coach students toward career leadership goals (meeting at least twice annually).
Objective 3: Enrich curriculum components in MCH leadership, research, and clinical content (annual review/revision and implementation).
Goal 2: Raise awareness of School of Nursing students in other specialties regarding policy, advocacy and care needs of CSHCN and their families.
Objective 1: Infuse special needs content and clinical observations/practica into baccalaureate and Nursing Doctorate courses (Year 1-3) and other graduate nursing programs (Years 1-5).
Objective 2: To infuse special needs knowledge into other graduate pediatric and community-focused nursing programs by: offering MCH/CSHCN lectures and content and online modules to other graduate nursing programs and offering PSN courses as electives to other graduate nursing students (Years1 – 5).
Goal 3: Offer continuing education (CE) to increase knowledge and skills of the interdisciplinary public health workforce in serving CSHCN and their families
Objective 1: Assess CE needs with state or regional MCH programs and community agencies (Years 1-5).
Objective 2: Deliver CE offerings (annually) and develop/revise online modules (Years 2-5) for interdisciplinary MCH professionals and public health nurses.
Objective 3: Use distance learning technology to offer state/regional collaborative CEs (Years 1-5) and online modules (Years 2-5).
Goal 4: To provide technical assistance (TA) and consultation to programs impacting the wellbeing of children with special needs and their families.
Objective 1: Provide TA and consultation regarding CSHCN and their families to state Title V and CSHCN personnel, regional MCHB-funded programs, community agencies, and schools of nursing (Years 1-5).
Objective 2: Offer a CSHCN- and nursing leadership-focused list serve to state level Title V and CSHCN personnel, regional MCHB-funded programs and national nursing leadership programs, community agencies, and schools of nursing (Year 1-5).
Objective 3: Maintain a website for posting program information (recruitment, CE and TA announcements), CSHCN content, and nursing leadership content, with linkages to related sites (functions added progressively Yrs. 1-5).
Methodology:
1. To develop nurse leaders in pediatric special needs, MS, P-MS and PhD/DNP students are recruited, targeting nurses from underrepresented groups or with disabilities. Mentoring, coursework and practica build on clinical excellence to foster leadership in public health, community assessment, health care systems, interdisciplinary collaboration, integrated service settings, cultural competence, critical thinking, research and evaluation, technology, and communication and teaching, toward careers in research, teaching, administration, public health and policy development and CSHCN advocacy. 2. Lectures and Web-based modules/courses on topics in maternal and child health services for CSHCN and their families are infused at the baccalaureate, Nursing Doctorate and graduate levels to raise awareness of service needs of CSHCN. 3. State/regional or national CE workshops/seminars are offered live and via technology on collaboratively identified needs, targeting provider communities and the interdisciplinary public health workforce in rural, urban and underserved areas, including states without MCHB training programs and American Indian service locations. 4. TA and consultation are offered to programs serving CSHCN and their families to enhance service planning, delivery and coordination, and to strengthen health professionals’ resources. TA and consultation are provided to/with State Title V/MCHB agencies and initiatives, and community programs, as well as nursing programs.
Coordination:
PSN coordinates training, CE and TA with Colorado Title V and JFK Partners (UCEDD/ LEND). Mentored practica are negotiated with The Children’s Hospital, schools, diverse health agencies and advocacy groups. SON faculty projects and the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care offer research opportunities. Past graduates contribute to the program. PSN collaborates with MCH leadership programs and uses resources such as the National Center for Cultural Competence.
Evaluation:
Qualitative and quantitative methods drive monitoring and outcome-focused evaluation. Systematic procedures track/assess: a) goal and objective progress, b) trainee demographics and, c) outcomes. Documentation captures CE-TA participant ratings, and product development (e.g., web-based modules, curricula) and research activities. Data are analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods as appropriate. Interpretive reports and recommendations aid problem identification and resolution.
Experience to Date:
By Year 3, 11 students had been admitted to the PSN program, with two more in the admissions process for Year 4. Two more students are actively engaged in the admission process for Year 4 and inquiries are ongoing. Students are enrolled in the MS, PhD and DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) programs. Efforts are ongoing with the Admissions Office, especially with regard to diversity recruitment. Revisions of program specialty courses continue, to address national trends in advanced practice nurse certification and to articulate with the SON transition of the ND to a DNP degree. The leadership emphasis of the DNP program is consistent with the advanced practice roles identified in the PSN program, making DNP students with interest in pediatrics excellent candidates for PSN. In Year 3, JFK Partners and PSN faculty offered continuing education (CE) on with JFK Partners on sexuality and developmental disability, with Mile High Down Syndrome Association in a third sexuality workshop for parents, professionals and self-advocates, and an interdisciplinary think tank on children’s social-emotional behavior challenges. PSN provided technical assistance (TA) and resources to Mile High, and to the Medical Home Advisory Board working with the Title V team of Colorado Public Health & Environment on behalf of CSHCN and their families. Several students offered TA and CE within the context of their clinical experiences.
|
