2. Associate Degree Nursing
Curriculum Improvement Project

3. Curriculum Improvement Project Grant 2006-2008
Funded from the North Carolina State Board of Community College Reserve Funds
Each project is 2 years in length, but only funded on an annual basis based upon availability of funds
Administered by the Division of Academic & Student Services in the NCCCS Office

4. Curriculum Improvement Projects
A means of providing funding for system-wide projects in curriculum or instructional areas experiencing significant changes
Job market developments
Advances in technology
New teaching & delivery methods
Implementation of state or national educational initiatives
Associate Degree Nursing and Early Childhood Education received grants for

5. Curriculum Improvement Project
Projects are based on the belief that the classroom instructor is the critical factor in the targeted curriculum area.
Professional development activities form the foundation for curriculum development & upgrading
Content, methodology, technology
Each project is required to provide professional development for instructors, The 2 year project should result in innovative instructional strategies which have long-term, systemic impact.

6. Curriculum Improvement Project
Basic Framework for all CIP
2 years in length
Based at a resource college: Wake Technical Community College
Full-time Director: Charlotte Blackwell
Involve faculty from all other colleges offering the targeted curriculum area in achieving project objectives

7. CIP Management Team Project Director: Charlotte Blackwell
College Instructional Administrator: Ben White; Alisa Nagler
Program Consultants: Kim Jernigan & Jennifer Frazelle
CIP Manager: Peggy Teague

8. CIP Mission
Implementation of one Associate Degree Nursing Curriculum Standard
Collaborative restructuring & revision of
A45100 : integrated
A45120 : nonintegrated

9. Curriculum Revisions Will reflect recommendations from
Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Sciences report, “Health Professions Education: a Bridge to Quality in 2003”
North Carolina IOM Task Force on the North Carolina Nursing Workforce

10. IOM Reports
Acknowledge changing profiles of patients and recognize that nursing education programs are not educating nurses to meet those needs
Set forth imperatives for nursing education programs

11. Imperatives for Nursing Education Programs
A curriculum that prepares graduates with competencies to:
Provide patient-centered care
Work in interdisciplinary teams
Employ evidenced based practice
Apply quality improvement processes
Utilize informatics

12. Needs & Emerging Issues
Standards last updated in 1996
Major advances in healthcare sciences & services since 1996 update
Curriculum revisions needed
To educate students to provide safe, competent nursing care practices
To update language in course descriptions in common course library
To assure easy transferability of students among colleges

13. Needs & Emerging Issues
To implement the NC Board of Nursing curriculum mandate to include the “5 Practice Competencies” from the IOM report
To provide professional development activities to assist faculty with curriculum design and teaching/learning methods
The “5 Competencies” give the curriculum new direction

14. Needs & Emerging Issues
Changing curriculum focus
Conceptual learning
Methods that include:
Increased technology
Distant education
Simulations
Shift content heavy curriculum to a more conceptual learning based curriculum

15. Project Design & Implementation
Objective # 1
Survey faculty/directors/deans to determine curriculum & professional development needs associated with changes needed to incorporate:
NC BON standards
NLN standards
IOM recommendations regarding educating the workforce in NC

16. Project Design & Implementation
Objective # 2
Review professional literature to determine what the workforce employers & the nursing profession needs from the next generation of nurses and how best to implement the NCBON standards, the IOM recommendations, the NLN standards into one curriculum plan for all NC community college ADN programs
Review of literature will provide: Needs of workforce employers, how informatics impacts nursing skills & client care; how to integrate best-research with clinical expertise & client values for optimal care using evidence-based practice; ways to identify hazards & errors regarding the use of quality improvement processes to measure client outcomes and to develop changes in processes of client care.

17. Project Design & Implementation
Objective # 3
Form a Curriculum Development Focus Group
Faculty/directors/deans
Consultants from NC Board of Nursing
Representatives from NLN
Education consultants from the NCCCS
Representatives from industry/employers
Focus Group will assist with review of literature, the NC BON standards, the NLN standards, the NC community college standards, the IOM recommendations, and curricula from various ADN programs nationwide. EVERY college will have a representative and every voice will be heard.

18. Design & Implementation
Curriculum Development Focus Group Will Review
Professional literature
NC community college standards
NC Board of Nursing standards
NLN standards
IOM recommendations
Curricula from ADN programs nationwide

19. Design & Implementation
Objective # 4
Coordinate meetings at various locations throughout NC to involve “Focus Group” members in discussions regarding curriculum changes
Express opinions & concerns of faculty/directors from colleges represented
Propose curricula changes which will lead to curricula development & adoption
Members will explore how to incorporate the integrated and non-integrated ADN curricula into ONE curriculum standard.

20. Design & Implementation
Objective # 5
Revise & restructure the ADN curricula to reflect one Curriculum Standard which incorporates the major advances in nursing and healthcare practices
IOM recommendations for nursing workforce
NC Board of Nursing requirements
NLN requirements
NCCCS requirements
Needs of healthcare industry
The ADN curriculum will reflect the standards and recommendations of these groups and ONE curriculum Standard will be adopted.

21. Design & Implementation
Objective # 6
Provide faculty professional development, as needed, in support of curricular development & adoption
Video conferences
Web conferences
Phone conference calls
State-wide workshops
Discussion groups/ forums

22. Project Outcomes
Multi-institutional effort that leads to the adoption and implementation of one Associate degree Nursing Curriculum Standard which meets the standards of all the accrediting agencies and reflects the advances in nursing and healthcare practices.

23. Project Outcomes
One curriculum standard which will ensure a seamless articulation for students moving among the institutions of the community college system
Increase in nursing student retention throughout the multi-institutional campuses due to improved articulation

24. Project Outcomes
Increase in number of nursing graduates throughout the multi-institutional campuses
Better prepared graduates for current workforce expectations

25. Project Outcomes
Faculty professional development in support of curricular development & adoption
Effective dissemination of project results to the broader community
Enhance the knowledge & abilities of faculty/directors/deans to continue with program updating

26. Associate Degree Nursing CIP
Every one will have a voice
Stay informed & get involved
me at:
Call me at:
Know your college’s representative and give them your input

27. Technology Focus Group
Web-based instruction
Investigate the implementation of online hybrid nursing courses
Recommend appropriate software, assess use of PDAs, iPods, streaming video, etc.
Assess opportunities and mechanisms for resource sharing among institutions.

28. Research Focus Group Conduct literature searches
Using evidenced-based practice in the design of a nursing curriculum
Designing a conceptual based curriculum
Healthy People 2010
NLN standards
Institute of Medicine Report, “Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality”
Board of Nursing “5 Practice Competencies”

29. Professional Development Focus Group
Conduct a needs assessment of nursing faculty across the state and recommend professional development topics, locations, and speakers
Conceptual vs content based curriculum
NLN Core Competencies
Evidenced-based practice
Informatics, technology, simulations

30. Simulations Focus Group
Develop plans and cost analysis for simulation laboratories.
Develop recommendations for purchasing equipment in stages, sharing equipment among institutions, faculty education of equipment, and obtaining grant support for purchasing equipment.
Arrange a “Simulation Fair” at one of our future meetings so vendors can showcase and demo equipment

31. How Did They Do That Focus Group
What are the best ADN programs in the nation doing that we are not?
How do we measure up? Who are the national “flag ship’ ADN programs and how did they get this distinction?
Which states have the most cohesive, successful community college ADN programs and how may we achieve that status?
In the North Carolina Community College System, what are the ADN programs doing that we need to be proud of? Find the “one thing” that each college does great