BORDERPLEX HEALTH COUNCIL Nurse Shortage Reduction Taskforce End of Project Reports Funded Projects for FY2007 (March 1, 2007 – February 29, 2008) July 2008 Contents End of Project Reports, FY 2007 1. Evaluation of LVN to BSN/RN Program Collaboration and Strategic Planning Project L. Porter‐Wenzlaff, (J. Cardea)*,UTHSC‐SA; P. Bennett‐Baird, UTB/TSC; S. Sanchez, UTPA; J. Lujan, UTEP 2. Collaboration to Provide Educational Outreach for the DSN Program D. Grimes, UTHSC‐H; K. Dougherty, UTB/TSC 3. Developing and Enhancing Clinical Tracks in the MSN Program E. Tamez, UTB/TSC; J. Maville, UTPA; R. Rogers, UTHSC‐SA _________ * Jane Cardea, PhD, RN, MSN, MA, assumed responsibility as PI/PD for the grant project when Dr. Porter‐Wenzlaff relinquished the position as director of the project in fall 2007; Dr. Porter‐Wenzlaff remains as an active consultant to the project. The project was continued after grant end, February 29, 2007, by approved “roll‐over” funding. Each project was presented (poster) at the February 7, 2007 meeting of the BHC and displayed at the subsequent UT‐System Regents meeting at The University of Texas–Pan American, Edinburg, Texas. The following reports are presented as submitted by each grant PI/PD as the final or concluding update of each project awarded by the BHC, December 2007. UTHSCSA, UTB, UTPA AND UTEP BORDERPLEX Collaboration
January-July 2008 Update
Jane Cardea, PhD, RN, MSN, MA
Linda Porter-Wenzlaff, PhD, MSN, RN, CNAA-BC, CNE, MA, LPC, NCC
Goal: Continued shared vision and long term plan (UTHSCSA, UTB, and UTPA)
Accomplishments
Long-Range Plans
Focus on 3 common online courses
Three courses available by Fall 2009.
Addressing administration issues related to course
Research by Spring 2009/ pilot in Fall 08.
Proposed grant applications:
implementation across campuses (i.e., registration, faculty
Borderplex Renewal Grant F08
workload and grading responsibilities, course credit
THECB Grant targeted for S09
differentials)
Met 3 times for a total of 5 days for staff development,
HRSA Grant for 2009
IT development, faculty inclusion in course development,
Publication:
and continued partner clarification of vision
Submit manuscript F09 after we go live
Goal: Development of common vision among course faculty across campuses:
Develop core of shared courses across
Developed rubric of research course content for each
campuses
campus to assess commonalities/differences.
Involved faculty representatives across campuses
Expand cadre of faculty and
Research course production begun; theory modules
administrators actively involved in
refined. Course faculty begin recording July 2008 with
Borderplex project
Maintain each campus uniqueness
Sonic Foundry – Tegrity set to be piloted for this purpose
/individuality (funding, sequencing, etc.)
late summer, early fall 2008. Will use Sonic Foundry
Submission of full curriculum proposals
and/or Tegrity to get pilot content up across campuses for
to THECB by UTB and UTPA to offer
Fall 2008. Other courses to follow development in Fall.
Course packets shared across campuses -ongoing review LVN-BSN degree program
Goal: Identification and development of BlackBoard and software competencies with course faculty
across campuses:
UTHSCSA Research Course to be
IT personnel began identification of online format
available for tri-campus access by January,
compatibility across campuses
2009. Piloting beginning Fall 2008
Identified and involved IT resources on each campus to
provide instructional design and faculty/student support at
each campus
UTPA Pharmacology and UTB Health
Identified ongoing need for faculty workshops and
Promotions course modules recorded
consultation during online course development and delivery Fall/Spring to go live Spring/Fall 09
Development of common web template and details of process for sharing BB courses across 3
campuses
Developing prototype for Borderplex home page with
Collaborate with IT personnel at UTB to
tri-campus links – have concept blueprint – detailing
submit grant for funding IT equipment and
Obtained initial budget to support instructional design of technical support
web home page, server space, training for Tegrity format,
continuous faculty/student support
Secured server space plus IT support for Tegrity
platform to all partners @UTB – UTB IT supports this
Funding / Expense Update: Majority of remaining funds at each campus (approx. $16,000) to be used
for Tegrity pilot, faculty production of developed courses in online format, and 1 additional face-to-face
meeting in July 2008.
Grants / Scholarship: (Scholarship pending Fall 08 pilot and Spring 09 live debut)
NIH Loan Repayment Program (Dr. Bennett-Baird sponsored/ Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff).
AACN Baccalaureate Ed. Program Abstract submitted (Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff)
BORDERPLEX PROJECT FINAL REPORT MAY 2008
Collaboration to Provide Educational Outreach of the PhD Program
Principle Investigator: Deanna Grimes, Dr. PH, RN, FAAN,
Professor, UT School of Nursing at Houston
Co-Principal Investigator: Katherine Dougherty, EdD, RN,
Chair, Department of Nursing, UTB
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing (UT –Houston) and
the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB) Department of Nursing collaborated to establish an
educational outreach of the Ph.D in Nursing program on the UTB campus. This collaboration
strengthened the capacity of UTB faculty to provide doctoral education in nursing on their campus in the
future. The long-term aim was to significantly increase the number of nurses with doctoral degrees in the
Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) to teach in nursing.
Goal 1: The PhD program will be present and visible on the UTB campus beginning in Spring 2007 and
will be viewed by faculty and students from each school as a collaborative effort.
Funding from the Borderplex grant enabled ongoing communication and travel between the
campuses and promoted a shared climate of scholarship and collegiality. Leaders of this Outreach held
regular meetings via video and/or phone conference and in person. The success of this relationship was
evidenced by our development of a second Borderplex Proposal (funded) to continue our educational and
expand our scholarly efforts in 2008.
A PhD Coordinator was named on the UTB campus and acted as a mentor and advocate for the
PhD applicants and students. Leadership from Houston and UTB continued to engage in joint recruitment
efforts. Houston faculty traveled to UTB during the Fall semester to assist students to progress in
coursework. Three Houston faculty taught their course at UTB on Feb. 7 for transmission to Houston and
were available to advise their PhD students at UTB.
Goal 2: Five nurses from the LRGV were admitted to the PhD program and four students enrolled in
PhD courses on the UTB campus by Fall, 2007. One of those four withdrew early in the semester. These
students had broad educational and research opportunities available to support their educational success.
Three students successfully completed the Fall coursework and two are enrolled in spring 2008.
Enrichment opportunities, such as a writing workshop and orientation to the UTB library resources, were
made available at UTB. New PhD students traveled to Houston for orientation to the PhD program. PhD
students at UTB have participated fully in class and interact with their Houston classmates and faculty.
Although, prospective students are in the process of applying to the program for admission in Fall 2008,
two new students from the LRGV have been admitted.
Two required courses were transmitted from Houston to UTB during Fall 2007 and one course
was transmitted during Spring 2008. UT-Houston used part of the Borderplex funding to expand its
distance education technology to achieve a high level of transmission capability. We assessed the
capability of existing recourses during Fall, 2007 and scheduled a meeting on 1/28/08 with those
responsible for the distance education technology in Houston to devise a plan a resolve transmission and
connectivity issues.
The Borderplex grant funded the purchase of a complete state-of-the-art mobile video-conferencing unit,
the Polycom Portable Video-conferencing System. This equipment will be available to the UTHSCH –
School of Public Health located on the UTB campus.
A report of this project, Collaboration to Provide Educational Outreach of the PhD Program,
was presented to the Borderplex Council in a Poster presentation.
The success of this first Borderplex Project led to the development of a second effort for Collaboration to
Enhance the Infrastructure for Nursing Scholarship in the lower Rio Grande Valley. The first of six
Borderplex seminars was held in February and was a success. The purpose of these seminars is to enrich
the scholarly atmosphere at UTB for current doctoral students and faculty. The research presentations in
Houston were made available to the Brownsville faculty and doctoral students via a “club” on
Blackboard.
Borderplex Health Council - Progress Report/Final Report February 1, 2007 – March 31, 2008
Title: Developing and Enhancing Clinical Tracks in the MSN Program
Project Director: Eloisa G. Tamez, Ph.D., UTB/TSC Program Director MSN Program
Co-Project Director: Norma Rogers, Ph.D., FAAN UTHSC San Antonio
Co-Project Director:
Janice Maville, Ed.D, UTPA, Edinburg, Texas
Dr. Eloisa G. Taméz of the Department of Nursing University of Texas and Texas Southmost College
(UTB/TSC) collaborated with Dr. Norma Rogers of University of Texas Health Science Center at San
Antonio (UTHSCSA) School of Nursing Department and Dr. Janice Maville of the Department of
Nursing at the University of Texas – Pan American (UTPA) to conduct a feasibility study for creation of
clinical tracks for Mental Health and Pediatric specialties at UTB/TSC.
A feasibility study was conducted with surveys distributed to 441 professional registered nurses and 13
Chief Nurse Executives in health care facilities in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy Counties. The categories
of professional nurses in these facilities included the following: ADN- 357, BSN-225, MSN-36, Nurse
Practitioner-4. Of 441 surveys to professional registered nurses, 82 (19 percent) responded: Diploma-4,
ADN-26, BSN-41, MSN-7. Twenty five respondents were interested in pursuing a BSN and six a MSN.
Sixteen stated they were interested in the Mental Health Clinical Specialty and 17 in the Mental Health
Nurse Practitioner program. Sixteen cited an interest in the Pediatrics Clinical Specialty and 24 in the
Pediatrics Nurse Practitioner program.
Of thirteen health care facilities surveyed, seven responded. Of the seven institutions that responded one
was a community outpatient clinic, five were hospitals, and one was a rehabilitation hospital. Of the six
hospitals, three had less that 50 beds, one had 100 beds and two were over 200 beds. The education level
among the registered nurses as reported by all seven were as follows: ADN, 357; BSN, 225, MSN,36,
Nurse Practitioner, 4.
Qualified faculty members are essential to teach in a nurse practitioner program for compliance with state
and national standards of practice. The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) graduated five
students from the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program two years ago. That program has not continued
due to absence of funding. The data reveals that there is an equal interest in the pediatric nurse
practitioner program among the respondents. Thus, the results of this survey positions UTPA to revive
their program since qualified and potential faculty reside in Hidalgo County. The team involved in the
Borderplex Phase I, “Developing and Enhancing Clinical Tracks for the MSN Program”, reviewed the
data and together with UTPA concluded that UTPA should pursue the revival of that clinical track and
seek external funding. It was also recommended that UTPA build capacity to offer their program online.
Because the results of the survey indicated that there was a pool of nurses interested in a Family
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program (FPMHNP), the Borderplex team made a decision
to pursue this venue.
There were 1,649 active psychiatrists licensed to practice in Texas in 2003, for a ratio of 7.5 psychiatrists
for every 100,000 Texas residents. The figures in the Lower Rio Grande Valley are startling given recent
(2003) data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Health
Administration, Bureau of Health Professions. This source indicates that no more than three psychiatrists
reside within 62 miles from the Texas-Mexico Border. Based on this need and the evidence of interest
The team proposed that UTB/TSC seek funds in Borderplex Phase II for partnering with UTHSCSA who
already has a current program that is online. By recruiting RN’s with an MSN, we anticipate that the
candidates will complete the FPMHNP program in one year.
Within the project, we at UTB/TSC had identified a consultant for the development of the curriculum for
the pediatrics specialty. This individual resigned from the grant responsibilities and recruitment for a
qualified professional were initiated. When the team concluded that UTB/TSC should pursue the
FPMHNP program and UTPA the PNP program, we at UTB/TSC began a search for a replacement with
the needed specialization as a consultant. The borderplex team identified Dr. Margaret Brackley from
UTHSCSA to spearhead the implementation of this program. Two essential meetings were conducted
with her and the Brownsville Mental Health Task Force, health professional leaders in the community,
and UTB/TSC nursing faculty in January and March 2008. We asked for and were granted an extension
on our grant until March 31, 2008.
Below is a summary of goals, activities, outcomes, recommendations and timetable.
Goal
Activity
Outcome
Recommendation
Timetable
Needs
Assessment
1.Survey
registered
nurses in the
RGV
2.Survey
CNO’s
1.441surveys
distributed,82
responded
Surveys to CNO’s were
obtained either by mail or by
face to face interview. A
face to face interview with
each one may have yielded
better results.
Completed
Spring
and
summer 2007
Curriculum
Development
(Pediatrics)
UTPA
will
revise
their
curriculum
In process
UTPA revive the PNP
program and seek external
funding.
December
2007
Curriculum
Development
(PsychiatricMental Health)
UTB/TSC &
UTHSCSA
will develop
PMH
curriculum
In process
UTB/TSC received funding
from Borderplex Phase II to
partner with UTHSCSA and
offer the program the first
year to prepare the necessary
documentation to offer the
program at UTB/TSC.
Fall
2008
through
UTHSCSA
Fall 2009 at
UTB/TSC
Distance
Learning
Explore
capacity
UTPA developing
mechanism to place
pediatrics nurse
practitioner program
on line
Seek external funding to
develop online program
Fall 2009
FPMHNP program
at UTHSCSA
currently on line
Received funding by
Borderplex Council to
develop capacity at
UTB/TSC in partnership
with UTHSCSA
Ongoing.
Contacting
various
clinical
facilities for
mentorship
agreements.
2.13surveys
distributed,
7 responded
Recruiting for
students.
Report prepared by Eloisa G. Tamez, RN, PhD, FAAN Associate Professor and Program Director Master of Science in Nursing Department of Nursing UTB/TSC Eloisa.tamez@utb.edu 956.882.5079