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Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to describe the evidence based research process used to determine the effectiveness of a BSN Senior Practicum Distant Study Program.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to discuss the research findings about the effectiveness of a BSN Senior Practicum Distant Study Program.
The purpose of this evidence based study was to formally evaluate the effectiveness of a Senior Practicum Distant Study Program in a BSN School of Nursing. Student placements included a total of over 50 domestic, global, and multicultural clinical experiences.
Methods: The methods included a research design consisting of IRB approval from the College, a student focus group interview, a student survey questionnaire (via Survey Monkey) and a focus group interview with course coordinators, clinical faculty, and administrators who participated in the Senior Practicum Distant Study Program over a span of three years.
Results: The results of the study confirmed our assumptions that this Senior Practicum Distant Study Program was a highly effective program from the perspective of students, course coordinators, clinical faculty, and administrators. The results also included strategies to improve the program such as ways to streamline the process, particularly regarding the increased workload created for course coordinators and administrators.
Conclusion: There are several conclusions that can be drawn from this research study. Offering domestic, global, and multicultural experiences was a highly effective program from the perspective of students, clinical faculty, course coordinators, and administrators. Some of the important strengths of the program included opportunities to practice in rural, urban, domestic and international settings, opporutnities to practice in the students' first area of interest, opportunities to practice in the students' own communities, and the value of this experience (on their resume) in obtaining a job following graduation. Some of the main areas to improve included strategies to streamline the process to reduce the workload for course coordinators and administrators, strategies to improve technology, and strategies to continue and expand the program in different countries.