An Academic-Practice Partnership to Transition Diverse Associate Degree Nursing Graduates into Acute Care and Community Health Settings

An exceptional academic-practice partnership, funded by the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA), has been developed by a Northeast University, two Associate Degree Nursing Programs, a Magnet Designated Medical Center and an urban Public Health Department to implement an innovative one-year RN-BSN program with a concurrent nursing residency. This enhanced one-year program has provided diverse Associate Degree Nurse Graduates (ADGN) to put theory into practice by teaming up with preceptors at the Medical Center and Public Health Department for an intensive, hands-on clinical experience. The success of the ADGN students was accomplished through financial assistance, mentoring, and a comprehensive network of student support services. A Summer Leadership Program has promoted the professional development and leadership abilities of the ADGN students. Data collection of year one is completed and year two is in progress on the following essentials of the program; clinical decision making, critical thinking, reflective journaling and the benefits of mentoring. At the completion of the program, each graduate has returned to their respective grade school to present on professional nursing to enhance recruitment of the next generation of diverse nurses.  Through the implementation of this HRSA funded program, the University will graduate a total of 24 diverse BSN degree-holding nurses which will have completed the residency and be highly marketable and employable post-graduation.