Contact: Valerie DeFor/ Elizabeth Biel

On this page:

• Overview
• Simulation
• Clinical Coordination
• Nursing Online Task Force

Overview

The critical shortage of nurses is a top priority of HEIP. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System is the source of 80% of all new nursing graduates in Minnesota. Demand for available slots in nursing programs has increased dramatically in response to the shortage of nurses and to the downturn in the economy. The pressure to expand programs has strained campus budgets. Faculty and clinical sites are in short supply.

Nursing initiatives are developed through input from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities nursing programs, and collaboration with organizations including Minnesota Hospital Association, Minnesota Nursing Association, Minnesota Health and Housing Alliance, and CareProviders of Minnesota.

Simulation

Simulation is an educational methodology designed to provide learning exercises that closely mimic real life situations.  Simulation education utilizes computerized mannequins and multi-media applications to enhance programs, student learning, and allow students to practice their skills in simulation environments prior to interacting with an actual patient.  Nursing programs are turning to this innovative education method and are increasingly investigating implementing simulation technology into nursing education and training curricula.

HEIP is supporting these efforts by coordinating simulation faculty development opportunities plus administering legislative funds that help nursing programs incorporate simulation technology into their curricula.  A series of three "Transforming Healthcare Education" conferences have been planned.  The first two held at Metropolitan State University and Ridgewater College provided nationally recognized simulation expert keynotes, informative breakouts, and opportunities for hands-on simulation experience.  The third conference, scheduled for July 27-28, 2006, at Mayo Clinic, Rochester will provide similar opportunities plus insight on how simulation is currently being used by healthcare providers.

HEIP is administering five legislative funding projects throughout the state to help programs in their efforts to implement simulation technology into their programs and efforts to expand simulation resources for other programs.  Projects are located in St. Cloud State University , North Hennepin Community College , Ridgewater College , Hibbing Community College , Rochester Community and Technical College, and Moorhead State University .  These education institutions are focusing on a variety of needs such as developing regional simulation projects, faculty development, purchasing equipment, providing a digital scenario library, and integrating simulation clinical experiences into curriculum.

Clinical Coordination

A growing problem facing nursing and allied health programs is securing clinical education placement sites for students.  Students in nursing and allied health programs must complete a hands-on, internship-type experience - clinical education experience - in a healthcare setting.  Currently many healthcare facilities that provide these experiences report they are at full capacity and are not able to expand to meet the growing needs of programs.  This issue is critical because if programs cannot secure clinical education space for students they cannot expand their graduation rates.

In response, HEIP is administering legislative funds to implement two clinical education site coordination pilot initiatives aimed to address the bottleneck issues currently faced within clinical education experiences.  The pilots, lead by Anoka Ramsey Community College and Minnesota State Community and Technical College, will model an initiative after similar clinical coordination efforts that have proven significantly successful for other states.  The findings of these pilots will be distributed to all programs and clinical education sites as a best practice for both programs and clinical education sites to streamline current activities, lower costs, and expand the availability of clinical education experiences.

Nursing Online Task Force

The Task Force and Nursing E-learning community will convene to research national online nursing programs & Minnesota school's best practices. They will conduct market research of  students and employers to develop a vision to present to Sr. Vice Chancellor Linda Baer. They will analyze existing online capacity and potential curricular pathways and make a preliminary report on their findings. They will ultimately present their recommendations to Sr. Vice Chancellor Linda Baer.  

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