Learning Objective #1: Describe a model of tri-state academic consortium educating diverse and culturally competent neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) in graduate educational

Learning Objective #2: Identify strategies of collaborations and networking with a tri-state consortium of universities of graduate education for NNP’s

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Purpose and rationale: Thomas Jefferson University (TJU) in response to a lack of educational programs for MSN Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NNPs) and the shortage of NNPs in the tri-state developed an academic consortium with The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), University of Delaware (UD). This collaboration utilizes an educational consortium where NNP student receives their core curriculum at any of the three Universities: TCNJ, UD or TJU. The NNP student then takes their advanced practice neonatal curriculum at TJU. The Universities participating in this tri-state consortium have taken the lead as educators in graduate nursing specialty of advance practice nurses, by developing this education consortium. The consortium will also focus on the underserved populations, education of diverse and culturally competent health care force, and high risk children. Removing barriers to advanced practice nursing will increase the employment of NNPs and access to care of underserved populations. Implementation of this innovative educational model developed out of external influences: regional shortage of NPs, NNP faculty shortage, lack of regional programs, and HP 2010 objectives. Internal influences driving the development of this consortium were leadership and changing value systems. Educational leadership and federal funding were crucial in implementing this innovative consortium. Change in health outcomes of infant mortality, diversity of NNP work force, and NNP cultural competency and sensitivity will be measured in this model utilizing the VARK and TSET instruments. Evaluation: Qualitative and quantitative data will be used to measure the outcomes. The CIPP model is the evaluation tool utilized to look at the context, input, process and product evaluation of the consortium. A descriptive assessment of the methods used to foster collaborative efforts educating these students among the universities will also be reported