Support nurses in academic progression

Welcome to the new semester! It is always fun to come back to school in the spring after a nice winter holiday.

The Institute of Medicine's Report on the Future of Nursing recommends that 80% of nurses hold a BSN degree by 2020. To that end UHV has been very active in promoting academic progression in nursing.

Here are a few things the School of Nursing is doing:

1. Enrolling students on four sites to better meet the need of working nurses and students: Victoria, UH Sugar Land, UH System Cinco Ranch in Katy and Lone Star Universtiy Center in The Woodlands.

2. Transfer agreements and Consortium for Advancing Baccalaureate Nursing Education in Texas (CABNET) pathways are posted to the website at http://www.uhv.edu/nursing/bsn/default.asp Find your community college and get started!

3. Faculty are committed to teaching and bringing excellent real-life experiences into the classroom to prepare the nurse of the future. See article about Dr. Terry Kirk: http://www.uhv.edu/car/newswire/release.asp?id=1772

4. I am co-investigator on an Academic Progression in Nursing (APIN) grant to help the State of Texas encourage nurses to continue their education to the BSN. The grant as three goals, (1) increase diversity in nursing, (2) work closely with practice partners to ensure the education for the nurse of the future, and (3) develop concept based curriula that prepares the nurse for the baccalaureate or masters role. To find out more go to the website at: http://www.texasapin.org/APIN

The website offers mentors for students going back to school, scholarship opportunities and webinars for teaching about concept based curricula.

What can you do to encourage academic progression in nursing?

• Encourage your colleagues to go back to school. "It's do-able!!"
• Support your fellow students - we are all learning together for better patient outcomes!
• Attitude is everything: Have a "can - do" attitude!
• Contact a faculty member, advisor or colleague and ask them for guidance.
• Get support from your family, friends and workplace.
• See yourself as a leader for your patients and your profession!

See you this semester - stop by my office - my door is always open!

Sincerely,
Dean Tart