Carl Albert State College

PROJECT PURPOSE

The project addresses the need for nursing professionals and nursing education infrastructure in rural healthcare. The nursing workforce in rural Oklahoma faces severe shortages, and rural residents in Oklahoma receive less healthcare than do urban dwellers. As a result of preventative and healthcare disparities, rural residents are more likely to have higher morbidity and mortality rates than urban residents. Health disparities are especially prevalent among members of ethnic minority groups. These challenges highlight the need for nursing professionals (RN) in rural practice who have specific knowledge of rural people and places. Community colleges are the primary producer of professional nursing providers in rural Oklahoma. Policy action must be taken now to ensure that we derive value from publicly financed workforce investments that produce the workforce to meet rural health needs. Carl Albert State College has a long tradition of nursing education provision in Eastern Oklahoma and our program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), offering an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree (AAS) in Poteau and Sallisaw. Students must complete this degree to qualify for the Registered Nurse (RN) licensure examination. This project would be a transformative investment in rural healthcare by providing significant enhancements to our nursing education program which will lead to increases in the production of nurses for the state.

EVIDENCE

Nurses are crucial contributors to positive health outcomes in rural areas. Rural populations face increasing disparities in health outcomes and a significant gap in life expectancy, compared to urban populations. Given the lack of access to specialists, the rural nurse is essential, treating patients with diverse and sometimes complicated conditions. Carl Albert State College directs professional nursing education programs in two rural service communities: Poteau, and Sallisaw. Requested funds will be utilized to strengthen simulation labs, technological tools, classroom facilities, and equipment modernization; provide professional development and expanded resources for faculty members; and increase student opportunities for educational growth and practical experience. These program additions will prepare our student nurses with greater intensity, modernized application, and strength; therefore, allowing us to produce more nurses across the state through higher retention and graduation rates, as well as more robust workforce placement for completing students.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Rural populations face increasing disparities in many health outcomes and a significant gap in life expectancy compared to urban populations. At the heart of these disparities is a lack of access to healthcare, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many rural areas have a shortage of healthcare providers and lack a hospital or similar facility. An alarming number rural hospitals have closed or at financial risk of closure, which further impairs the local healthcare workforce. Nursing care is instrumental in achieving quality outcomes for patients, families, and communities and is the largest sector of the healthcare workforce. This situation is especially true in rural areas. Due to limited health care availability, the rural nurse is vital, treating patients with assorted and sometimes complex conditions. Rural nurses are generalists, providing any care needed, such as dispensing medicine, treating patients with acute health problems, or aiding patients in transfer processes to larger facilities. Several rural nurses have spent their entire lives in the same community and possess a deep understanding of the holistic community. This proposal will address the shortage of healthcare providers by creating increased numbers professional nurses in those rural areas that are most at risk and in need.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The three most common performance outcome measures used by Boards of Nursing (BON) and other health profession accreditors are employment rates, completion rates, and NCLEX pass rates. In addition to these performance indicators, we will report the number of nursing graduates at Carl Albert State College. These four performance indicators will be recorded and presented to the House and Senate fiscal offices. This report will be presented on an annual basis once the grant is awarded.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

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