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Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc. |
If implemented, the new division would offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing. A new facility would be constructed to house the new division and Northeast Community College’s two-year nursing program.
The study was prompted by an inquiry from Nebraska State Sen. Michael Flood of Norfolk, about establishing a nursing college in Norfolk to help address the growing demand for acute care in north/northeast Nebraska and the associated need to increase the number of nurses with bachelor’s and graduate degrees.
University of Nebraska President J.B. Milliken referred the request to UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. In April, UNMC College of Nursing Dean Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., initiated a feasibility study to determine the need for a new nursing division in Norfolk.
The study found positive factors that would support creating a new division, as well as identified challenges. The study was conducted by a team from the UNMC College of Nursing, Faith Regional Health Services (FRHS) and Northeast Community College in Norfolk.
“The University of Nebraska Medical Center and specifically the College of Nursing, has again demonstrated that its campus is 500 miles wide,” said Flood. “Dean Tilden and Dr. Cramer have taken the time to listen to the needs of rural Nebraska. UNMC’s professional, well-reasoned feasibility study has shaped my legislative priority for the next two years.
“The concept of a partnership with Northeast Community College, Faith Regional Health Services, UNMC and regional hospitals to educate tomorrow’s nurses, embodies the spirit of Nebraska by working together,” he said. “A UNMC College of Nursing division in Norfolk would mark the first time in our state’s history that the university has offered a baccalaureate and a graduate degree program in northeast Nebraska.”
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Sen. Mike Flood |
“He introduced the idea of a new College of Nursing Division and has continued to embrace the concept throughout the study period,” she said. “There has been a very strong show of support from all sectors of the Norfolk community and surrounding areas, including the health care sector, the academic institutions, and the business and community leaders. This type of support would be critical for this initiative to be successful should it move forward.”
In the study, data from the North Health Planning Region — identified by the Nebraska Health and Human Services System as 24 counties in north and northeast Nebraska — was compared to other geographic health planning regions where UNMC College of Nursing divisions exist (Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney and Scottsbluff).
The factors that support a division in Norfolk include a growing regional demand for health services — especially acute care; the favorable population demographics showing growth and a strong economy; and the significant workforce shortage in the region. The region has 15.3 percent of Nebraska’s population.
“The area is very favorable and the demographics are strong – in particular – there’s a pool of the younger age group we traditionally recruit for our BSN program,” said Mary Cramer, Ph.D., associate professor, UNMC College of Nursing and chairwoman of the feasibility study. “Nebraskans living in the North Health Planning Region are interested in these types of programs. For many, it would mean being able to live and work in their communities while pursuing a bachelor’s or graduate degree. Research shows students tend to stay in the area in which they are educated and practice. If they go away to school, they may not return.”
The study indicated a nursing division in the area would help reduce the current
and projected shortage of nurses, particularly those with a bachelor of science degree in nursing and a master of science degree in nursing. The division would be the only public-supported nursing college in the area offering the degrees, which would allow students to attain the degrees at an affordable cost.
“Nurses with these degrees would help meet the area’s growing acute and chronic health care needs, as well as prepare future nurse leaders,” Dr. Cramer said. “This patient population has pretty dramatic nursing workforce needs. Opportunities for northern Nebraskans to receive specialty services near their homes also would be increased.”
Additionally, the division would address the growing need for nurses educated in community and public health services, which is part of the BSN educational program. Public health nurses have a BSN degree and are educated in this specialties to help address the general population’s needs, as well as the aging, underserved and minority populations.
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Bob Driewer |
Bill Path, president of Northeast Community College, said there are few things as critical to the future of rural Nebraska than the challenge of providing quality health care.
“Contributing to the pool of highly trained health care providers for this region is one of the most admirable pursuits for which we in higher education can strive,” Path said. “At Northeast Community College we are committed to providing a variety of higher educational training opportunities for the constituents in our service area and we actively search for ways to partner with other institutions of higher education in order to expand these opportunities.”
Dr. Cramer said the first class of students graduating from the new division could boost the BSN workforce in the region by about 13 percent.
While there are many indicators that support the new division, the feasibility study also identifies important challenges. These included faculty recruitment, financing a new facility, start-up and ongoing costs for operations, and securing clinical sites for students.
Initially, the division would need to recruit 10 faculty and an assistant dean. Once the program reached student capacity, an additional five faculty would be needed for a total of 15 full-time faculty, Dr. Cramer said.
“Because of the shortage of nursing faculty nationally and in Nebraska, it will be a significant challenge to recruit nursing faculty for this new division,” Dr. Cramer said. “This would require a full-time professional recruiter and national searches for a couple of years.”
Officials project the cost of a 35,000 square foot facility at $10.8 million. By the seventh year, on-going expenses are projected at $3 million and the annual revenues are projected at $3 million.
The source of funds for the division would come from private and public sources.
“The College of Nursing needs to be flexible in the face of new data indicating a critical need,” said Dr. Tilden. “The study identified a need, a need that would require new resources. If the regents and the Norfolk area determine a division could be supported, we would roll up our sleeves if we’re given the green light.”
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Bill Path |
“Like every nursing school, we would have to have agreements with area clinical sites in which faculty teach and supervise students. We would work with area hospitals and clinics in order to meet these needs, and we are pleased that Northeast Community College has offered to share their sites,” Dr. Cramer said.
Dr. Tilden thanked the feasibility study team and Norfolk community leaders who partnered in the study for their thorough report.
The partnership builds on ongoing relationships between UNMC, Northeast Community College and Faith Regional Health Services. FRHS is one of five training sites for UNMC’s rural residency program, the Northern-Nebraska Area Health Center, which serves 26 counties, and a biannual UNMC Mini-Medical School series co-sponsored by Northeast Community College.
The study also included UNMC nursing faculty, Kathy Duncan, Ph.D., assistant dean, Lincoln Division, Mary Megel, Ph.D., interim associate dean of undergraduate programs, and Steve Pitkin, assistant dean, Kearney Division. Team members from Norfolk were Janet Pinkelman, director of human resources, and Lisa Walter, chief nursing officer, both of Faith Regional Health Services, and Ann Oertwich, director of nursing programs, Northeast Community College.