TRUCKEE MEADOWS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
PROGRAM/UNIT REVIEW
DEAN’S RECOMMENDATION
PROGRAM/UNIT REVIEWED: Nursing
Self-Study Committee Chair(s):
Jody Covert
Division: Sciences
Year of Review: 2013-14
Date Submitted to PURC: 1/30/2014
Dean’s findings of strengths and weaknesses of the program/unit:
Strengths:
1. Courses in the program are taught by highly qualified faculty.
2. The leadership structure which includes two clinical coordinators has developed a dynamic team which assists the
director in maintaining close coordination with the clinical sites and adjunct faculty.
3. The program is the recipient of outstanding support from the business community. Additional funding sources
have been made available to the program through the sponsorship by individuals and/or corporations recruited by
the TMCC Foundation.
4. Opportunities for student scholarships are outstanding. The total scholarship award amount in 2013-2014 was
$138,000.
5. The consolidation of the program into the new Health Sciences Center at Redfield will eliminate logistic problems
associated with maintaining multiple sites.
6. The simulation equipment available to students is outstanding. A full time lab coordinator is a strength.
7. Program faculty members are highly focused on assessment. The self-study outlines a number of improvements to
the coursework because of assessment activities undertaken by the faculty.
8. The program has been approved to switch from an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) to an Associate of
Science (AS). This will facilitate transfer opportunities for students. In addition, the program revisions now allow
a student to complete all prerequisites and program requirements within five semesters.
9. The articulation agreement with Nevada State College (NSC) provides for co-enrollment with the four-year
Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Nevada State College (NSC). The
program also has articulation agreements with University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) and Great Basin College
(GBC).
10. Curricular changes which focus on the exemplars is a positive change.
11. Faculty members in all courses utilize features of the TMCC learning management system (CANVAS).
12. The addition of a differential fee starting in fall 2014 will provide additional resources to the program.
Weaknesses:
1. The current staffing pattern includes three one-year temporary faculty hires and an acting Director. These need to
be converted to permanent positions as soon as possible.
2. Library resources available to nursing students have been identified by the accrediting body as insufficient.
3. Access to online testing resource at Redfield is an issue. Similar issues at Dandini are close to resolution.
4. The lack of available clinical sites in the locale community for TMCC students to practice is decreasing. While no
fault of the program itself, it does create numerous scheduling issues.
5. As mentioned earlier under strengths, the program faculty members are split between two campuses. Hopefully
this will be resolved over the next few years.
Dean’s Recommendation
6. Admission to the program is highly competitive. Adding additional criteria which focuses on soft skills rather
than hard numbers should be considered.
Summary action recommended for program/unit: Continue
Recommendations for development strategies and anticipated time lines:
I concur with the PUR Committee’s recommendations on the following points:
Curriculum:
• Continue degree and course assessment efforts. This was listed as a strength of the program but efforts must
continue to be a priority of the department.
• Maintain connection to community liaisons to promote the program within the community and industries it
serves.
• Consider developing a bachelor degree program at TMCC. An innovative degree can benefit TMCC nursing AS
graduates. Graduates will be credited to TMCC and count twice in the formula funding plan.
• Pursue Continuing Education (CE) development as a way to offset program costs.
• Monitor and address Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) recommendations (e.g. library
and locations).
Demographics and Enrollment:
• A strategy should be developed to bring the nursing program students into alignment with the ethnicity of the
surrounding community should be mentioned.
• A part-time nursing degree option is an excellent idea for increasing enrollment and should be pursued.
Resources:
• Complete search for unfilled positions and fill with permanent faculty. - Two positions were filled during January
2014, but two additional remain.
• Conduct a search for a permanent Director of Nursing. - This will be conducted between April and July 2014.
• Develop funding for replacement of aging manikins.
• Ensure adequate computer lab space for required standardized exams. – Completed in Spring 2014, included in
plans for new facility.
• Identify faculty to teach Registered Nursing refresher course.
All timelines are considered ongoing unless otherwise noted.
Identify resources necessary for implementation of recommended development strategies:
A significant portion of the resource needs mentioned above are available through the existing operational budgets.
Faculty and the Director’s position are already in the current budget and are fully funded. In addition, the program enjoys
strong support from the community and through the TMCC Foundation. The resources provided by the buildout of the
new Redfield campus gives the program an opportunity to improve the library, clinical lab space, and computer access.
Additional funding should also become available through the phased in implementation of differential fees in Fall 2014.
Describe impact of recommended development strategies on Division planning:
As the nursing program continues to move from an AAS to an AS degree beginning in Fall 2015, the Biology department
has been asked to assist in the re-sequencing of prerequisites. They have been willing partners in that effort; however,
additional fine tuning may need to occur.
Describe impact of recommended development strategies on program/unit facu]ty:
The above priorities of staffing and resource allocation should affect all program faculty in a positive fashion.
O
ean of Enter Division Name:
Name
Date
Ted Plaggemeyer
3/24/ )4
Dean's Recommendation