The Center for American Progress has published a new report entitled How To Ease The Nursing Shortage In America. The report underscores the important role that community colleges and the associate degree pathway plan in ensuring a robust, diverse nursing workforce. The report addresses “three main constraints that prevent higher education institutions from graduating more nurses: a shortage of nurse educators, a lack of clinical placements for student nurses, and inadequate campus facilities and equipment.”
The conclusion issues three policy recommendations with additional specific exemplars provided.
Policy Recommendations
Expand the capacity of educational institutions to enroll and graduate nurses while improving access and outcomes for student nurses of color and overall population health
Federal and state actors should introduce new proposals to expand clinical placement capacity and fund pathways from ADN programs to BSN programs
Create standing bodies to document and advise on issues of recruitment, training, and retention
OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.
NCC Sends FY 2023 Appropriations Requests to House and Senate LHHS-ED Appropriations Subcommittees
On April 11, fifty-eight members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies outlining the funding requests of $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for FY 2023.
NCC Sends Letter to Congress on COVID-19 Waivers
On April 25, forty-nine members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action to make waivers permanent beyond this Public Health Emergency (PHE).
90 Representatives Support FY 2023 Funding for Title VIII in House Dear Colleague Letter
On April 27, ninety Representatives signed onto a House Dear Colleague letter circulated by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) requesting $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs in FY 2023.
2022 – 2025 OADN Strategic Direction:Shaping the Future of Associate Degree Nursing Education Together
Dear OADN Members:
I hope you are enjoying a lovely spring. We are having a late start this year in Michigan but the spring flowers are starting to bloom ushering in a new season filled with opportunities. OADN is looking forward to a future of opportunities as well, which is evident in the OADN 2022-2025 Strategic Direction. We are focused on supporting our greatest asset, our members.
I am excited to share with you our 2022-2025 Strategic Direction for OADN. Most people think of strategic planning as boring long days but our sessions were interactive, productive, thought-provoking, and fun. The Board of Directors and operations team left the sessions in February with renewed energy and an excellent draft of our strategic direction. This plan will build upon our existing resources, programs, and member-focused benefits while helping to strengthen our collective voice and impact on associate degree nursing education. The plan includes the following three (3) Strategic Priorities.
Priority 1: ADVOCACY
OADN is the leading advocate for Associate Degree Nursing Education
Under this priority, we plan to fortify our advocacy efforts. In addition to helping us protect our shared interests and values, this plan will also ensure the associate degree pathway is preserved and promoted as an essential entry point into the nursing profession. Our future advocacy and outreach energies will focus on greater member presence and volunteer engagement to help strengthen our impact on this critically important pathway into the nursing profession.
PRIORITY 2: EDUCATION
OADN is the expert resource for Associate Degree Nursing Education and ADN Educators
The development of a high-impact, data-driven research agenda is imperative. We must identify essential data points currently missing from literature and resources to fill those gaps and advance ADN education and policy on a larger platform. Our goal is to develop a clearinghouse of ADN resources that will contain up-to-date, relevant data and best practices that are easily accessible to our members. In addition, OADN will work to build a bureau of subject matter experts who can provide direct consultation and guidance to OADN members as needed.
PRIORITY 3: LEADERSHIP
OADN is the choice for Associate Degree Nursing Leadership and Faculty Development
You shared your stories of stress and frustration dealing with constant leadership turnover and faculty shortages within your school programs, and we listened. OADN has worked diligently to develop professional development resources and educational offerings over the years to address your concerns. Future leadership offerings will be designed to meet your unique needs while offering significant continuing education credits. We believe the newly launched OADN Leadership Institute will be recognized as the gold standard for ADN leadership and faculty development, and we envision the OADN Leadership Institute Certificate will be a highly regarded, in-demand designation that is an exclusive benefit for OADN members.
The OADN Mission, Vision, and Values continue to be an important part of this new strategic direction. These are woven within our priorities and will continue to be a focus as we move forward with the implementation phase of our plan. I will also be calling upon you to share your time, talents, perspectives, and expertise to help strengthen our collective voice and impact on the associate degree pathway. There will be many ways to get involved in this significant undertaking to operationalize the 2022 – 2025 OADN Strategic Direction, so please consider joining me and our OADN community to help shape the future of Associate Degree Nursing together.
As always, feel free to contact me at laura.schmidt@oadn.org with suggestions or questions. We know we have a lot of work to do over the next three years but I am confident that with your help and feedback, we will be successful and keep OADN STRONG.
With sincere gratitude for all you do for your students and OADN,
This guest blog was authored by Sandra Y. Walker, EJD, MS, RN, FAADN, Dean of Technical Studies at Central Ohio Technical College. Dr. Walker serves on the board of directors for the OADN Foundation and is a Fellow of the Academy of Associate Degree Nursing
This was a difficult case as many nurses can empathize with the challenges nurses face in providing care in today’s often stressful healthcare environment. Readers may also question precisely why the authorities elected to prosecute Ms. Vaught – this post will not speculate on this; however, prosecutorial documents are available for review at the tenessean.com link above.
the existence of a legal duty that the defendant owed to the plaintiff (the injured party)
defendant’s breach of that duty
plaintiff’s sufferance of an injury, and
proof that defendant’s breach caused the injury (typically defined through proximate cause
Nurses are guided/regulated by their state’s nurse practice act. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) advises “Safe, competent nursing practice is grounded in the law as written in the state nurse practice act (NPA) and the state rules/regulations. Together the NPA and rules/regulations guide and govern nursing practice.” https://www.ncsbn.org/npa.htm The nurse practice act is a good source to clarify the professional nurse’s duty as articulated in rule and law. Expert witnesses who speak to standards of care may also help establish the nurse’s duty.
In this case, the facts of the case were not in dispute. Ms. Vaught stated that “she allowed herself to become “complacent” and “distracted” while using the medication cabinet and did not double-check which drug she had withdrawn despite multiple opportunities”. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/03/25/1088902487/former-nurse-found-guilty-in-accidental-injection-death-of-75-year-old-patient This leaves the jury little choice but to compare the nurse’s actions against the required elements of negligence. One cannot ignore the nurse’s duty and the acknowledged breaches of that duty, or the fact that a patient was harmed.
That being said, there is a larger systemic issue that must be acknowledged. The healthcare system has worked to establish multiple patient safety initiatives, yet error and patient harm remain a major concern. Medical errors have been identified as the third leading cause of death in the United States, claiming 250,000 to 400,000 lives every year. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/22/medical-errors-third-leading-cause-of-death-in-america.html Obviously, more must be done, and healthcare leadership must lead the charge. It is critically important that leaders create an environment where direct care providers are supported, and systems are in place to prevent bypassing safety protocols. It should never be the norm, as was stated in this case, that nurses routinely override the system to access needed medications. Nurses in particular must be supported as they are often the last checkpoint before medications or treatments are provided to a patient. For example, nurses must be comfortable questioning orders that seem out of line with standard protocol and there should be no retaliation for any nurse who does so.
Critically important is the role of nursing education in the prevention of patient harm. It is vitally important that nurse educators teach about duty and accountability for one’s actions, the importance of patient safety, and adherence to standards of care. Education about just culture should be a part of every healthcare provider curriculum – not solely as a reaction when harm has occurred, but more importantly to prevent said harm from ever occurring. An ISMP analysis identifies multiple points at which the system failed: https://www.ismp.org/resources/criminalization-human-error-and-guilty-verdict-travesty-justice-threatens-patient-safety Nurse educators should not shy away from cases such as this – separate from the debate about where to lay blame, much can be learned, and patient harm could be averted.
In the Vaught case, although it is without question that the nurse administered the wrong medication, there was certainly more that contributed to this unfortunate outcome. It is to be hoped that a full root cause analysis has been conducted and all points at which the system failed are being examined. The entire healthcare system owes that to our patients.
The OADN Foundation promotes the mission and vision of OADN, through the development of resources, the recognition of scholarship and excellence in associate degree nursing education. The Foundation is pleased to announce the applications are now being accepted for the numerous scholarships and awards. The Foundation is excited to announce that the level of funding to support associate degree nursing scholarships and awards has been increased by over $10,000.00 with two additional scholarships, amounting in over $30,000 in scholarships. Apply today!
This is exceptional benefit for all OADN members and students.
Application deadline is June 15th and notification of award recipients will be September 1.
OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.
NCC Statement on the Passage of the FY 2022 Omnibus
On March 11, the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) issued a statement commending Congress for passing the bipartisan FY 2022 Omnibus spending bill and for supporting increases to Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research. The NCC looks forward to working with Congress and the Administration as we continue to support our current and future nursing workforce.
NCC Sends Letter of Congratulations to the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
On March 18, the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a letter welcoming Dr. Robert “Bob” Otto Valdez, who was recently named Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
NCC Statement on the President’s FY 2023 Budget
On March 29, the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) issued a statement supporting increased funding for key domestic and health care programs, such as Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research, in the Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Budget
We need your voice! As the only national organization exclusively advocating for community college nursing education and the associate degree pathway, OADN needs your unique talents, perspectives, and expertise to help strengthen our collective voice for associate degree nursing education. OADN membership is one of the most meaningful ways we show our support for one another, create community with each other, promote our continual learning and growth, protect our shared interests and values, and strengthen our professional identity together. Serving at the national level on the OADN Board of Directors or Nominating Committee offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only enhance your own member experience with OADN but also create a lasting impact for associate degree nursing education.
We currently have four (4) open positions on the OADN Board of Directors: Northeast Regional Director, Southwest Regional Director, Western Regional Director, and At-Large Director. In addition, there are two (2) open positions on the OADN Nominating Committee.
The term of service for the (3) Regional Director is two years. The term of service for (1) At-Large Director is two years. Board positions take effect at the OADN Convention, November 18 – 20, 2022. Board Directors, including all officers, regional directors, public directors, and the at-large director, shall participate in the development and implementation of the strategic plan, serve as Board Liaisons to committees and workgroups, and shall carry out other responsibilities as delegated by the Board of Directors. Regional Directors shall be residents of the designated regions, respectively. Board commitment includes attendance on monthly virtual meetings and 3 face-to-face meetings, funded by OADN, at locations to be determined annually.
The term of service for the (2) Nominating Committee Members is two years. Nominating Committee members review and recommend candidates for offices to the Board of Directors in accordance with OADN Bylaws and an established timeline. The Nominating Committee meets via virtual meetings.
NEW FOR 2022 – To streamline the Annual Call for Nominations process this year, OADN has changed platforms to Survey Monkey Apply to complete the required candidate application. If you don’t have a Survey Monkey account, please create a free account, and follow the instructions to complete all components of the online application when the Call for Nominations opens on April 15th. The 2022 OADN Call for Nominations Application Submission Deadline is June 15, 2022.
We can always count on OADN to be our staunch champion and most trusted resource during these ever-changing, demanding times. Now more than ever, OADN needs your help to continue our important advocacy work for associate degree nursing. I encourage you to consider running for one of the open 2022 OADN Board of Director or Nominating Committee positions and help us advance community college nursing education and the associate degree pathway. Together, we can support OADN’s vision of expanding networks that promote leadership, collaboration and advocacy that further enrich associate degree nursing education and the communities we serve.
Over the past seven-year as OADN’s CEO and during my 32-year tenure in associate degree nursing (ADN) education, I have heard many stories about the success of ADN graduates. Those individuals who persevered to reach their goal as a registered nurse continually demonstrate the importance of ADN education. For nurse educators, it is a notable reason you continue to devote your time and expertise.
I believe all of us have observed a moment in time when an occurrence makes you reflect and acknowledges your passion for the associate degree pathway. One week ago, after a particularly long Monday, I was fortunate to receive a reminder of why we must continually advocate for associate degree education. It was late in the evening, and I noticed an email that popped into my inbox. My first inclination was I can read that email tomorrow. However, something about the subject line, “A Quick Hello,” intrigued me. The three-sentence email was from a student I knew in 2008. The message read, “I came across your name recently for your work with the Commission to Address Racism in Nursing, and then later the same week a colleague shared a picture with you in it from a conference for associate degree nursing programs, and I thought to myself, twice in a week is quite a coincidence. I have had a wonderful career and now teach public health and healthcare policy at Saint Louis University. I am appreciative of the education I received at Lewis and Clark, and it prepared me well for my career.”
It was one of those moments that truly made my day! I absolutely wanted to know more and proceeded to ask Zoe to send her story.
“I sought out the nursing program at Lewis and Clark Community College (LCCC) after attending a large, four-year institution for a few semesters. I realized the university was not the right fit for me- full of distractions, little support, and expensive- and after meeting with the Program Director Sheri Banovic, I knew it would be the right program for me. The smaller class sizes allowed for a more focused learning environment, as well as the ability for students to interact with the faculty. The program design allowed for a natural progression through nursing concepts, without the distractions of simultaneous non-nursing classes. I felt prepared within the clinical environment thanks to the high quality of the content delivered in the classroom setting. I also remember each member of the faculty, and how helpful and passionate they were about their work, especially my clinical faculty member who (rightly so) thought I should do a preceptorship in the emergency department. This had been her area of bedside expertise and she thought I would do well in this area. I was so appreciative of this opportunity, and I knew this is an area I wanted to pursue in my career.
After graduating from the program in 2008, I took the NCLEX and passed with ease, and was able to join the nursing workforce. My preceptor in my first role as a nurse commented on an almost daily basis how well- prepared, I was, mentioning most new graduate nurses did not come prepared with the ability to critically think, nor did they have clinical experiences that adequately prepared them to show up ready to work in the acute care setting. It was not long before I was precepting new graduate nurses and student nurses and realized what she had meant- I could see for myself that students from other programs, including baccalaureate nursing schools, were not receiving the top-notch nursing education I had received.
In 2010 I enrolled in an online RN to BSN program and graduated in 2011. Completing the coursework while working full time was a doable task, and I was extremely satisfied I had gone this route to earn my BSN.
I continued working in the emergency department, and in 2015 I felt called back to academics. I applied to a BSN to DNP program, with a letter of recommendation from a faculty member at LCCC and started the program in 2016. In 2019, I earned UMSL’s Innovations in Clinical Practice Award and successfully defended my thesis and earned my Doctor of Nursing Practice with a focus on population health. I am now teaching public health and healthcare policy for a baccalaureate nursing program. Every day of my nursing career I am thankful for the wonderful education I received in my ADN program. I was well prepared to join the nursing workforce, and I would not alter my career or academic path in any way.
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to talk about my career path! I honestly am so happy with the experience I had at LCCC and am a proponent for associate degree programs, as they promote equity in education and our workforce.”
These are the authentic stories of ADN students that must be shared to demonstrate the significant value of ADN education to the nursing profession. Many of these stories speak to academic progression and validate the essential role of the ADN entry point. Do you have a story to share? I would welcome my inbox being filled!
OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.
NCC Urges House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees to Advance the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act this Congress
On February 14, fifty-six members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto letters to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees urging them to pass S.1220/H.R.2568 – United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2021 this Congress.
The OADN Simulation Task Force is continuing its educational offerings with series of FREE webinars airing in February and March of 2022.
These webinar, presented in partnership with Unbound Medicine, are derived from session that were presented at the 2021 OADN Convention that took place in Austin, Texas. If you we not able to join for that event, this series is a tremendous opportunity to expand your knowledge of strategies to incorporate virtual simulation into your classrooms and curricula.
Webinar #1 (February 16, 2022): Simulation: What is it and what makes it work?
Identified Gap(s): Simulation is an evidence-based teaching and evaluation strategy widely used in nursing education. However, the evidence demonstrates that simulation only effectively replaces face-to-face clinical experiences when they are framed by the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice<TM> (HSSOBPTM).
Speakers: Rebecca Cockrell, MSN, RN, CHSE – Simulation Center Director
Hinds Community College
Jackson, Mississippi
Rebecca Cockrell is the Director of the Dr. George Ball Simulation Center of Hinds Community College located in central Mississippi and the Director of the Mississippi Academy for Simulation Training at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She is a Certified Healthcare in Simulation Educator (CHSE) and participated in the 2019 National League of Nursing Leadership Program in Simulation. She is a member and site reviewer for the Society of Simulation in Healthcare, a member of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), and a member of SimGhosts. She recently served as Chair of the Sim Task Force and helped to create OADN’s Virtual Simulation Reviews (VSR). She has written for the National League of Nursing TEQ blog and has presented at several international, national, and local conferences.
Janeen Berndt, DNP, RN, CNE, CHSE – National Director of Clinical Integration and Innovation
Galen College of Nursing
Grovertown, Indiana
With over a decade of experience in higher education, Dr. Berndt offers expertise in online nursing education, competency-based learning, and patient simulation. Janeen has been a Certified Nurse Educator since 2006 and has incorporated all forms of simulation across pre- and post-licensure curricula. Among her significant accomplishments is leading undergraduate nursing programs during the COVID19 pandemic allowing students to continue their education and graduate on-time despite limitations in clinical and laboratory access. Dr. Berndt used the experiences from the pandemic to expand the continued use of virtual learning to augment competency-based learning in a prelicensure nursing education. Additionally, her work in high-fidelity simulation has improved clinical experiences in nursing programs facing significant clinical site competition. Dr. Berndt holds the CNE, CHSE and Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist certifications. Currently, she is President of the Psi Upsilon Chapter of Sigma and Chair of the OADN VSR reviewer task force.
Webinar #2 (March 2, 2022) : Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity
This webinar will explore how integration of DEI concepts apply to traditional and concept-based curriculum as well as how it supports accreditation standards. A specific product will be showcased on how this free virtual simulation product supports DEI initiatives and what criterion of the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best PracticeTM: Simulation Design are supported using this product. Other resources will also be identified from virtual simulation products reviewed by the OADN Simulation Task Force.
Elizabeth S. Robison, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE, CHSE-A – Simulation Center Coordinator
Northwest Florida State College
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
I have over 35 years of nursing, along with supervisory, management, and education experience in a variety of roles in the United States Air Force and higher education. I’m currently a tenured faculty member within the Department of Nursing primarily working in the ADN program at Northwest Florida State College. My educator role with this institution began in August 2006 and I have since transitioned into my current role as the Simulation Center Coordinator in 2017 when the program established this new position. Within the ADN program of studies, my specific focus involves working with simulated clinical experiences across the curriculum. I hold several certifications to include: NLN, Certified Nurse Educator and SSH, Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator. My terminal degree was completed in 2012 with my dissertation focusing on Curriculum and Instructional Technology. I was elected in 2019 to serve on the INACSL Board of Directors as VP of Finance and re-elected to another 2-year term in 2021.
Theresa Cooney, MSN, RN, SEL-III – Assistant Professor
Howard Community College
Columbia, Maryland
Theresa Cooney has thirty-three years working in the field of nursing with specialty of pediatrics in the United States, Tangiers, Morocco, and Rota, Spain. The last six years of experience is in academia with a Master Degree in Nursing Education and Train the Trainer SEL-III through the Maryland Clinical Simulation Resource Consortium . Currently employed at Howard Community College in Maryland, she is an assistant professor teaching in a concept-based curriculum with a pediatric focus to include theory, clinical and simulation. Other areas include concept-based curriculum development, retention and remediation of ADN students, and faculty professional development including exam blueprints with item analysis, diversity, equity, and inclusion within the curriculum, flipped classroom with active learning activities, use of virtual simulation with debriefing, and simulation evaluation. She is a current member of OADN’s Virtual Simulation Review team and contributing author to “OADN Virtual Simulation Reviews: Team Collaboration to Develop an Online Resources to Assist Nurse Educators” article in Teaching and Learning, July 2021.
Janeen Berndt, DNP, RN, CNE, CHSE – National Director of Clinical Integration and Innovation
Galen College of Nursing
Grovertown, Indiana (see bio above)
Webinar #3 (March 16, 2022): The Simulation Advantage for Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)
Simulation is uniquely positioned to help students prepare for NGN by providing clinical cues that inform the appropriate clinical judgment. In this webinar, Mario will demonstrate how to replicate NGN item-type questions using virtual simulations and free resources already at your disposal.
Speaker: Mario Jara – Associate Professor, Simulation Coordinator
Austin Community College, Round Rock Campus
Mario Jara is an Associate Professor for Austin Community College. In 2020, he earned a Master of Science in Nursing Education from the University of Texas at Tyler and a certificate on the Essentials in Clinical Simulations Across the Health Professions from George Washington University. Currently works as a Simulation Coordinator for Austin Community College Round Rock Campus. He has worked in lab logistics and operations related roles for nursing simulation since 2015.
The Center for American Progress has published a new report entitled How To Ease The Nursing Shortage In America. The report underscores the important role that community colleges and the associate degree pathway plan in ensuring a robust, diverse nursing workforce. The report addresses “three main constraints that prevent higher education institutions from graduating more nurses: a shortage of nurse educators, a lack of clinical placements for student nurses, and inadequate campus facilities and equipment.”
This guest blog was authored by Sandra Y. Walker, EJD, MS, RN, FAADN, Dean of Technical Studies at Central Ohio Technical College. Dr. Walker serves on the board of directors for the OADN Foundation and is a Fellow of the Academy of Associate Degree Nursing
College (LCCC) after attending a large, four-year institution for a few semesters. I realized the university was not the right fit for me- full of distractions, little support, and expensive- and after meeting with the Program Director Sheri Banovic, I knew it would be the right program for me. The smaller class sizes allowed for a more focused learning environment, as well as the ability for students to interact with the faculty. The program design allowed for a natural progression through nursing concepts, without the distractions of simultaneous non-nursing classes. I felt prepared within the clinical environment thanks to the high quality of the content delivered in the classroom setting. I also remember each member of the faculty, and how helpful and passionate they were about their work, especially my clinical faculty member who (rightly so) thought I should do a preceptorship in the emergency department. This had been her area of bedside expertise and she thought I would do well in this area. I was so appreciative of this opportunity, and I knew this is an area I wanted to pursue in my career.
Director
