Purpose: An increasing number of adults, with a prior baccalaureate or higher degree, are choosing nursing as a second career. Eleven out of the 29 Indiana BSN schools currently have an ABSN program within their schools of nursing. (Indiana Center for Nursing, 2019). The AU School of Nursing (SON) desired to accommodate more students within the program. Based upon a cap of 60 students per cohort, the SON has been at 57-60% capacity over the last two years. Collaboration through a national mentorship program can facilitate and expedite new program development and academic leadership development for new academic leaders.
Methods: Project Activities Beginning in February 2018, an initial needs assessment for the ABSN program included a review of competing schools, the geographic data, regulatory and accreditation requirements. The results were shared with the advisory board, potential employers, as well as community stakeholders. Early collaboration with the AU alumni council, was instrumental in the recruitment of previous bachelor’s prepared AU graduates. The enrollment and marketing team was consulted to optimize marketing resources. This work is still in process. Contact with chief nursing officers at local hospitals provided additional applicants, and Facebook.com was used as a social media marketing tool. Collaboration with the Office of Advancement and previous deans was helpful to identify potential scholarship donors.
Participation in the Sigma EEAI mentorship program and match with appropriate mentors.
Project Outcomes: The AUABSN is 21 months in duration and includes 61 credit hours. Prospective students are required to complete 23 credit hours of pre-requisites in anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology, psychology, and developmental psychology with a grade of C or above. The admission grade point average is 2.75. The ABSN is reasonably priced at $420 per credit hour with a total tuition cost of $25,620. This places AU at the lowest cost for private universities offering an ABSN in Indiana and a competitive stance with several public universities. This plan allows the ABSN to fold into the current BSN curriculum which significantly controls costs for the university. The projected number of students in year one was five. Currently, there are six students enrolled who have completed pre-requisites and will begin nursing courses May 2019.
Another distinctive component of the EEAI experience was to assess one’s leadership journey. This involved three parts: a rearview mirror reflection of the past, a dashboard view of the present and windshield vision into the future. Self-assessment tools included Strength-Finders, Thomas-Kilman Conflict Instrument, and Myer-Briggs Indicator provided insight to personal attributes. Strengths Finders assessment identified responsibility, learner, focus, achiever and self-assurance as talents. The Meyer Briggs appraisal identified this scholar as an “Inspector”- introverted, sensing, thinking, judging. Webinars increased knowledge and skills in strategic planning, fundraising, budget and finance, and legal considerations. Faculty-led workshop discussion included topics such as leadership theory, emotional intelligence, diversity and inclusion, marketing self, office politics and communication, and challenges in leadership. Personal leadership styles identified included transformation and servant leadership, with a focus on creating psychological safety in the workplace to enhance learning, innovation, and growth. Scholars had a unique opportunity for a videotaped interview. Monthly triad meetings with identified objectives led to the project completion prior to the predicted timeline AUSON met the projected goal of five students enrolled in the May 2019 cohort. Leadership resources positively impacted the scholar present and future knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Discussion: Approval from the Indiana State Board of Nursing to begin program. Six students are enrolled in the May 2019 ABSN cohort. Currently, five students are completing pre-requisites to begin the May 2020 cohort. At a macro-level, launching the ABSN program will allow AUSON to impact the projected nursing shortage positively. At a micro-level, the ABSN program will increase student enrollment at AU. Work will continue in identifying student scholarship resources and increase marketing of the ABSN. Leadership is a journey, not a destination. This journey involves clenching a moral compass to guide behaviors and decision making, continually monitoring one’s personal fuel gauge to ensure a manageable work/life balance, in addition to monitoring a self-care plan.