School Spotlight: Texas A & M University – Corpus Christi
Program: ADN to MSN Online Program
Interviewee: Dr. Eve Layman, Associate Dean for Graduate Nursing Programs at TAMUCC, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
As demands increase for nurses with advanced training and degrees, nursing schools are turning to innovative programming to accelerate the education process while maintaining high standards. Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi is one such school that is finding success even while dealing with the same challenges that so many other schools face.
In 1995, administration and faculty began planning for the ADN to MSN program, and the school admitted its first class two years later. Dr. Eve Layman began working with the program in 2004 and recalls 10 students enrolled in the early years when the program was considered an honors program where students had to maintain a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of their ADN program to be admitted.
Today the ADN to MSN program offers Family Nurse Practitioner, Leadership in Nursing Systems, and Nurse Educator tracks, and classes average between 25 – 35 students. Students can enroll at three entry points per year, but Layman emphasizes that “fall is the best time to start because of pacing.” While an increase in faculty has helped with expansion, the school has also scheduled effectively by enabling students to do coursework in RN to BSN program classes for undergraduate requirements.
Because of the huge Magnet hospital movement in Texas there is “increased motivation for hospitals to support ADNs to go on to get advanced degrees,” says Layman. Students entering this program are going straight from an ADN to an MSN, but they do need to complete 20 credits of undergraduate specialty content associated with the BSN. “They will complete core nursing courses, but do not need the liberal arts requirements of a traditional BSN,” says Layman. The 20 credits are completed in two semesters, and for this part of the program students are in school full-time.
When asked about attrition, Layman responded that they may lose 2 -3 students per cohort, but the losses are mostly caused by students needing to back out because of personal responsibilities. “In the last five years, we’ve lost just five students because of grades,” says Layman. “People who enter this program are committed to success. There is no second application required to move from the undergraduate to the graduate level, but students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the undergraduate component. If a student is struggling she can switch into the RN to BSN program and reapply for the MSN program later,” explains Layman.
A majority of students come from medically underserved communities, and many receive federal grants specifically in the FNP specialty. The students are extremely dedicated and clearly understand their career paths.
Students research and negotiate their options for their clinical. Because the school has a long history in the area, faculty and administrators have developed a large network of contacts and resources for clinical over the years, and often graduates of the program serve as preceptors for the current students. “Students are the brokers for negotiation of their clinical, but the clinical instructors have the final word and will advise students about other available opportunities,” says Layman.
Students have as many as five preceptors so they can get experience in a variety of nursing situations and specialties. Finding that many preceptors can be challenging “especially in the urban areas of Texas,” says Layman. “The society of clinicians is loyal to schools in the area,” she continues, and while students can complete their practicum in clinical in their hometown, they will travel if a local option isn’t available. The majority of students do end up completing their clinical in the communities in which they will practice.
“The Nurse Practitioner field is very competitive right now,” say Layman, “so finding clinical opportunities can be tough. The Leadership track is usually easier because the facility is already vested in the nurse working there, and the Education track is also easier to fill. Our hospital partners know when our students enter their capstone courses and are waiting in line with projects for them,” says Layman.
The school currently uses the proprietary program, Typhon®, to track student progress. “Typhon® is a data storage system where students can log hours and documentation,” explains Layman. Faculty can go in and monitor progress. “What’s great for students is that they can then maintain a subscription and use the data for their portfolios,” says Layman.
This ADN to MSN program’s online curriculum is consistent with the high standards of CCNE and is constantly monitored and adjusted to maintain high quality. “The Standards for Nursing Education recently changed for MSN and BSN programs, so we have adjusted our program and course objective to meet those standards,” confirms Layman. “For articulation programs, the coursework must be consistent with the guidelines for a BSN,” she continues. “Many times the academic rigor and education value of online courses are challenged, because people automatically compare online courses to correspondence courses of years ago,” says Layman. “We constantly monitor our program to make sure it is consistent with the accreditation agency and Board of Nursing standards,” assures Layman. “Because we are linked to the graduate school program, we also have an extra layer of review; there is no difference in the educational standards for the MSN earned in the ADN to MSN program versus the degree earned in the conventional MSN program,” she says proudly.
There is a strong commitment to non-traditional graduate students and the challenges they face. Knowing these students on a personal level is a priority to the faculty, and they actively work to help students remove barriers and obstacles while understanding their other life commitments such as work and family. There is consistent outreach to students to support them throughout the program through the Learning Management System which can track how often a student is in class. Faculty members monitor the site carefully and can follow up quickly if a student is not visible.
“We want our students to be successful,” says Layman, “and we want to provide our graduates with the opportunity to have great nursing careers.” Her passion for student achievement is apparent, as is her concern for the advancement of the nursing profession. “The Nurse Practitioner specialty is the big thing right now,” she says, “but Administration and Education need to grow as well. Leadership of an organization is critical to the quality of nursing care, and in Texas nurse executives at hospitals with more than 100 beds are required to have their MSN.”
The demand for nursing leaders with advanced degrees will only grow in the coming years, so programs like the ADN to MSN at Texas A&M are doing everything they can to make sure that demand can be met by well-trained, motivated nurses.
NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® are registered trademarks of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
