Nursing Workforce Development (NWD) - Program Name: Pathways to Practice: Empowering the Next Generation of Skilled Nurses Applicant: Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) Project Director: Amy Ertwine, RN, Professor of Nursing Phone Number: 443-840-3438 Email: aertwine@ccbcmd.edu Funds Requested: $2,184,239 Funding Preference: Yes, substantially benefits medically underserved populations. CCBC also is eligible for Priority 1 (Not currently funded by NWD) and Priority 2 (Never funded by NWD). Summary of Project: CCBC has demonstrated strong performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) over the past four years. According to data from the Maryland Board of Nursing, CCBC's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates consistently exceed state averages. While CCBC nursing faculty are proud of this achievement, it is impossible to deny that many students do not graduate from the nursing program because they face a challenge during their education, whether it's a life event or an academic failure. Among the 550 students in the data set analyzed for this project, 33% were not retained and did not complete. This means that of the 550 students studied, 183 students left the nursing program – representing 183 potential nurses that would otherwise help to address the current shortage of available workers. Based upon the data, the people least likely to complete CCBC’s nursing program include the following: People ages 25-29; African American/Black, Hispanic, and Asian students; and Students with Pell aid. To level achievement gaps, CCBC will create a comprehensive project serving 550 participants from various community copulations over four years, focusing on student retention and completion, financial aid, and faculty professional development to ensure that all Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students receive the full support necessary to succeed in this demanding degree program and career. The strategy involves progressive levels of support and intervention on the student pathway. Early in the program, staff and former students will host welcoming celebrations for students and families. These gatherings will instill a sense of comradery and inclusion among students, while families will learn that their support and understanding are vital to the student's success. As classes begin and accelerate, the program will emphasize group study with remote and in-person options, online study modules, social gatherings, mentorship, and one-on-one advisory meetings with student retention specialists. Students can access financial assistance for textbooks, uniforms, and laptops, as well as emergency financial assistance for housing, food, health insurance, childcare, transportation, and other necessities. As participants approach graduation, the focus will be on NCLEX preparation, including practice testing, comprehensive predictors for success, testing skills, and faculty intervention to address any concerns.?Faculty will be retained through mentorship training. Objectives: (1) Increase retention and graduation rates by implementing a strong, adaptive, and sustainable program of student support inside and outside the college, featuring best practices from multiple professional sources to increase student retention and completion rates. (2) Build a system of support to meet the academic, social, and financial needs of students to ensure academic success and graduation in CCBC’s associate degree nursing program. (3) Recruit and identify 550 qualified students over a four-year project period to receive project services and obtain their nursing degree and RN license. (4) Ensure students have additional financial resources available to supplement CCBC’s financial aid.
