University of Oklahoma Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing

PROJECT PURPOSE

Major investments in nursing education and faculty recruitment are needed to address the current and projected nursing workforce shortfalls in Oklahoma. Oklahoma lags far behind the national average for nurses per capita and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation for the long-term. Today, the shortage of registered nurses impacts the ability of health care systems to meet the demands for care and ensure quality outcomes patients and families expect. As the largest college of nursing in the state, the University of Oklahoma Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing seeks to collaborate with other nursing education programs, regional colleges/universities, and health systems to meet Oklahoma?s demand for nurses at all levels using a multi-strategy approach. Funding is requested to increase the number of available nurses through pop-up programs, increase the number of faculty through faculty fellowship programs, increase the number of advanced practice nurse providers with new academic pathways, transform nursing education using a consortium approach, and maximize utilization of resources earmarked for nursing education to meet workforce demands by establishing the Oklahoma Center for Nursing.

EVIDENCE

Oklahoma needs more nurses educated at all levels to meet the growing primary care and acute care demands of patients and families. Oklahoma is projected to experience a shortage of registered nurses (RNs) that will intensify as Baby Boomers age and require more health care. Compounding the shortage is the fact that nursing schools across the country struggle to expand enrollment due to limited resources and the shortage and aging of nurse faculty (AACN, 2021).

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

With a unique combination of knowledge, skills, and dedication, nurses often overcome social, structural, economic, and political barriers to address health inequities and improve the health and well-being for patients, families, and communities. Despite playing a key role in the health system, nurses have emerged as a vulnerable population group during COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed short-term/intermediate and long-term investments in nursing are designed to mitigate the adverse effects of the pandemic on the nursing workforce. Such actions will ensure Oklahoma builds a sufficient nursing workforce to meet the current and future demands of acute care hospitals, long-term care agencies, nursing homes, schools, community, and government healthcare agencies.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Using a logic model, the OU Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing identified the necessary inputs, activities, and outputs to support this proposal. We have identified a combination of short-term/intermediate outcomes as well as certain longer-term metrics. The anticipated short-term and intermediate outcomes are: increased nursing graduates, increased numbers of qualified faculty, increased access/enrollment in nursing education programs, improved nurse retention rates in Oklahoma health systems through education and practitioner-teacher role development, improved nursing workforce planning, and increased numbers of advanced practice providers. Long-term metrics would also include state-wide health access and health outcomes statistics.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma