Hoosier partnership to tackle shortage of critical-care nurses through online classes

By Lyn Mettler

Clarian Health Partners, the IU School of Nursing (IUSON) at IUPUI, and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), through a one-of-a-kind partnership, will develop a series of unique online classes to prepare nurses and nursing students across the U.S. in critical care.

Critical care is the area most in need of nurses in the current shortage. According to Diane Billings, an IUSON professor directing the project with IUSON Professor Pam Jeffries, nurse vacancies in critical care are expected to exceed 400,000 this year and many hospitals are closing due to an insufficient number of nurses. The courses will address problems common to most online classes, such as students feeling isolated, the inability to incorporate real-world experience, and difficulty in motivating students to interact and offer feedback.

“To our knowledge, this is the first time an online class will so expertly combine the benefits of distance learning with real-life clinical experience to ensure quality education and student satisfaction,” said Angela McBride, university dean of the School of Nursing and Distinguished Professor of nursing. The classes will include online interactions with experts from across the U.S., a reference area for the latest research and professional standards, and real-life nurse mentors from Clarian to provide support and mentoring. The group hopes eventually to offer the courses at hospitals across the U.S. and in other countries. The project is funded in part by a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education.

http://www.nursing.iupui.edu/