Elaboration: Academic support services (e.g., library, technology, distance education support, research support, admission, and advising services)) are adequate for students and faculty to -meet program requirements and to achieve the mission, goals, and expected student and faculty outcomes. There is a defined process for regular review of the adequacy of the program’s academic support services. Review of academic support services occurs and improvements are made as appropriate.
Program Response
University and School academic support services are available to support the SON programs, students, and faculty. They include Student Services, the Library, Information Management Services (IMS), the Office of Sponsored Programs, the Office of International Services, and the Clinical Learning Laboratory and Simulation Center at the SON and at the Howard E. Butt (HEB) Simulation Center in the Medical School. SON support services are more focused on achievement of SON mission, goals, and outcomes and include the Office of Admissions and Student Services, the Office of Academic Affairs, the Office of Research and Scholarship, and the Office of Practice/ Community Engagement each of which will be
described in detail.
Office of Student Services
The Office Student Services includes the departments of Financial Aid, Counseling, Student Health Center, Registrar, and Student Life. The mission of The Office of Student Services is to provide services and programs to assist students in achieving their academic goals while helping to support and promote personal development and quality of life.
Library Services
The Health Science Center libraries, offers a full array of searchable databases
including: PubMed, OvidSP (including Medline), CINAHL, Micromedex, MD Consult, SCOPUS, Stat!Ref Electronic Medical Library, UpToDate, and Web of Science with access to over 4,000 journal titles and articles. RefWorks is also available to students and faculty to manage
references. The Library collection contains 221,886 book and journal volumes, over 92,000 print book titles, just under 9,000 electronic book titles, over 3,000 Print and Electronic serials (Health Sciences) and nearly 5,000 Print and Electronic serials (all subject areas).
The Libraries are staffed by 19.7 FTE librarians and 29.4 FTE library support staff. A librarian serves on each of the SON curriculum committees and attends the Faculty Assembly.
Each Friday afternoon, a librarian provides remote librarian support for faculty and students in the SON. School of Nursing faculty and students have access to orientation sessions,
consultations on databases, mediated searches, and “Ask the Librarian” resources.
Instructional programs such as online teaching tutorials and demonstrations of MEDLINE and other health care databases are located in the University’s virtual Knowledge Center and are posted on UTHSCSA homepage. DNP students use the Knowledge Center to update Microsoft Office skills and they attend classes given by Librarians on library searches and reference tools.
Information Management Services (IMS)
IMS within the Systems and Network Operations (SNO) provide instructional design, Bb Learn, Audiovisual/Classroom, and videoconferencing support resources for all schools. Their mission is to provide leadership in the use of communication technologies; to deliver a full array of communication services; and, to establish and maintain a voice, video, and computer network that provides cost effective and reliable service for the faculty, staff and students. Students comment that they particularly appreciate the technical troubleshooting and repair services provided by IMS that includes laptop and home desktop computers. Having this high level of support for students to mitigate technical issues enables them to focus on learning activities.
Academic Technology Services (ATS), a division of IMS, provides consultation, technical assistance and creative expertise in support of the teaching/learning, research, health care and community engagement missions of the University. Three web specialist staff positions and two Educational Development Specialists were hired by ATS with funding from SON to support development of all new courses associated with curricula revisions. All faculty have been provided with the opportunity to achieve certification in online teaching and learning strategies.
The web specialists are dedicated to reviewing and revising web pages and other services. In spring 2010 the ATS support staff reviewed and revised policies and processes for publishing course syllabi in the SON.
Issues related to afterhours web support services emerged during the summer 2010 semester. At the beginning of the semester students and faculty experienced some difficulties accessing courses during non-business hours when no web support was available. IMS and the SON recognized the problem immediately, analyzed service needs, and instituted plans for more comprehensive coverage for the SON after hours. The SON now has access to after-hours help desk response system until 7:00 PM. In December 2010, Online Teaching and Learning Services began providing on call back up support for Bb Learn until 7:00 P.M. Extra
after hours support is also available during the first weeks of each new semester when student and faculty access problems are most likely to occur and affect timely achievement of goals and outcomes.
Office of Sponsored Programs
This office facilitates the achievement of faculty outcomes by providing ongoing support to faculty and staff who are submitting, managing, and completing grant-funded projects. The OSP reviews and approves all grants; establish and monitors grant funded accounts; and provides advice and support for all grants. Funds are managed by each school or grantee.
Office of International Services
This office serves as the liaison between faculty and staff and the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of Labor, and other national offices and organizations, by providing services to enhance and facilitate and promote safety for staff and students at the UTHSCSA. A primary focus of the Office of International Services (OIS) is to provide international education services, programs, and information to the HSC. Historically, the role of the OIS has been to provide immigration and visa services to the campus community and facilitate the stay of international personnel, including international students, at UTHSCSA. The OIS also functions as the designated administrative clearing-house and information source for all of the University’s education abroad activities, including international agreement
development and exchange program management. For example, in February 2009 a Mexico Travel Alert provided information about an increase in violence through Mexico and identified cities of greatest concern. During that time student and faculty from SON had planned a clinical elective course in Mexico, which had to be relocated to Guatemala.
Center for Simulation Innovation (CSI)
The SON provides a clinical learning laboratory for instruction in and practice of new competencies and inquiry project opportunities for the DNP program. This laboratory space was expanded to include a state-of-the-art simulation center. The laboratory is staffed by 5.6 FTE clinical nurse teaching associates who support teaching-learning activities. The current space includes a classroom and three demonstration units, each with eight beds and medium fidelity mannequins simulating patients across the lifespan. There are four examination rooms, one medication preparation area, and one room with a high fidelity Laerdahl adult simulator mannequin. The SON owns another Sim Man™, four new third generation Sim Men, two Sim Babies™ and two Sim Newbies™, a Noel™ pregnancy simulator, and a Harvey Cardio thoracic
simulator, as well as multiple low and medium fidelity human simulators, and task trainers. A variety of hospital rooms or units in the CSI are spaces where nursing students can safely practice and develop competencies and clinical decision making skills using the state-of- the-art hospital equipment and computerized simulation manikins. The center is equipped with control rooms, where faculty members observe and record student activities and program the manikins.
The UTHSCSA also has a 24-exam room HEB simulation center located in the Administration building on the main campus. Between the facilities available at the SON and across campus, students and faculty have access to a full spectrum of simulation and
technology supported teaching/learning opportunities to facilitate achievement of SON mission, goals, and student outcomes.
The Office of Admissions and Student Services (OASS)
Located in the SON, this office facilitates recruitment, application, admissions, and matriculation of nursing students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Following an extensive evaluation of the services provided by this office in AY2008-2009, a new Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Services was appointed, and significant reorganization of the office was instituted (Resource Room, Standard II-B-2, Reorganization Plan OASS).
Subsequently, the OASS has, in collaboration with faculty and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, developed a SON recruitment plan (Resource Room, Standard II-B-3, SON Recruitment Plan). This office also provides information to prospective applicants; represents the school at recruitment/career events; provides pre-admission counseling, and conducts unofficial
transcript evaluations for prospective applicants; provides public service /information services for local media when requested; supports the admissions process for all academic programs in concert with undergraduate and graduate committees; coordinates orientation for
undergraduate and graduate programs, career plan development and ceremonial events such as commencement; supports student organizations; and provides other support services for enrolled students; administers the school’s scholarship distributions; and is responsible for maintaining student service related records. The Student Services office is also responsible for facilitating access to other campus services for students, such as financial aid and counseling services in support of achievement of student outcomes and is staffed by a support person, and two academic coordinators/advisors.
The Office for Academic Affairs (OAA)
This office supports the school's educational goals of educating a diverse student body to become excellent nurses and nurse scientists. The office provides oversight of the
development, implementation and evaluation of the curriculum to ensure the quality of education
offered. The office serves as a resource for faculty and students in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. Major responsibilities include:
• Strategic planning for academic programs
• Academic advisement and student progression issues
• Clinical site development and management of clinical contracts
• Coordination of accreditation and regulatory requirements
• Coordination of course schedules and maps
• Depository for student program plans, comprehensive exams, inquiry project and thesis/dissertation approvals and electronic inquiry projects.
• Development and coordination of academic policies and procedures
• Program evaluation oversight, including course and teaching evaluations
SON Office of Nursing Research and Scholarship (ONRS)
This office offers support services for research and scholarly activities of faculty and students. Available resources include assistance in: locating funding sources, preparing
research proposals, literature searches, statistical analysis support, data management, research design, sampling design, instrument development, psychometric consultation, and manuscript and poster preparation and editing. A PhD prepared psychometrician, who is a tenure-track faculty member, also provides statistical consultation and expertise in research and sampling design. Since the initiation of the Dean’s Award for Scholarly Pilot projects in 2009, the Associate Dean for Research in concert with the Committee on Scholarship have awarded monies to support 15 faculty projects (6 in 2009, 3 in 2010 and 6 in 2011). Each faculty received
$5000 to support their pilot studies.
Centers for Excellence
The Centers for Excellence provide an opportunity for students to engage in scientific inquiry based on translational science, evidenced based practice, and population-based research.
Center for Community-Based Health Promotion with Women and Children (CBHP): The SON houses the Anita Thigpen Perry Endowment for the Center for Community Based Health Promotion in Women and Children. The center is composed of a partnership between
academia and community with the goal of developing health promotion projects.
The goal of the Center is to collaborate with the community in the development,
implementation, and evaluation of culturally proficient health interventions for Women and their families experiencing disparities in health outcomes. The Center Advisory Council is made up of
both interdisciplinary academic and community partners. Community partners include representatives of: Familias en Accion Community Collaborative Council (CCC), American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions (AIT-SCM), Mujeres Nobles de Harlandale, SUAVE (Southside United Against a Violent Environment), Coalition for GLBT Advocacy Group, and the Prosumer Group. Academic partners include faculty and staff from the School of
Nursing, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Department of Surgery, School of Public Health, UTSA, and Texas Woman's University. Faculty in the Center are engaged in multiple projects which are available in the Resource Room, Standard II-B-1, CBHP Projects.
Academic Center for Evidence-Based Practice (ACE): As a UTHSCSA center of excellence founded in 2000, ACE has continuously garnering extramural funding to conduct research in the field of evidence-based quality improvement and patient safety, workforce preparation, instrument development, and clinical consulting services supporting implementation of evidence-based practice improvements across disciplines. The ACE core team is comprised of three research scientists, two administrative event planners, a virtual communications specialist, and three research associates. Faculty scientists from across the disciplines of medicine, nursing, allied health, pharmacy, dentistry, and biomedical sciences are frequently part of the investigative teams on ACE projects.
The ACE houses the $3 million Practice-Base Research Network for Improvement Science NIH grant. The Improvement Science Research Network (ISRN) was founded on UTHSCSA’s long standing excellence in and commitment to clinical and translational research.
The ISRN leverages existing infrastructure via the Institute for Integration of Medicine and Science (IIIMS) which houses our Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA), four long-standing primary care practice-based research networks (PBRNs), and our connection to the CTSA national consortium. In 2009 the ISRN began filling a national gap in improvement science by creating a central structure upon which to build a sustainable, comprehensive network for testing health care safety and improvement strategies across disciplines and in multiple, nationwide hospital settings. The ISRN is comprised of national members, an advisory Steering Council made up of national experts and a central Coordinating Center staff functioning as a virtual network within the Academic Center for Evidence-Based Practice (ACE).
Two ISRN Network Studies are in progress:
1. Small Troubles, Adaptive Responses (STAR-2): Frontline Nurse Engagement in Quality Improvement (data collection complete; analysis near finalized; 14 sites engaged) 2. Impact of Cognitive Load, Interruptions, and Distractions on Procedural Failures and
Medication Administration Errors (data collection launched January 2013; 10 sites engaged)
Additional Network Studies is in progress (see http://isrn.net/improvement/index.asp).
ACE and ISRN activities are open to student engagement. In the past, a number of undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students have worked closely with ACE Team as part of their studies, garnering small grants and participating on ACE contracts. Currently, the ISRN Research Priorities for Improvement Science track closely with the DNP program competencies, targeting studies that advance quality and patient safety. DNP Students (all students) have membership in the ISRN that is fully subsidized. ISRN membership affords access to all ISRN resources, such as study modules and annotated bibliographies, recorded web seminars by national experts, and the ability to directly collaborate on the investigative teams of the ISRN Network Studies. The special “Student Program” of the annual Improvement Science Summit (a research methods conference) offers DNP students opportunities to attend the conference.
During special sessions, students engage in small group roundtable discussions with world leading experts in the new field of improvement/implementation science. Future DNP student engagement includes a specialty blog with a DNP focus and highlights of DNP projects on the ISRN website.
Office of Practice and Engagement(OPE)
The Office of Practice and Engagement (OPE) was created in September 2009 with hiring the new Associate Dean for Practice and Engagement (re titled Vice Dean in March 2012). The goal of this office and the faculty committee for Practice/Community Engagement is to support achievement of the mission and goals associated with practice/community
engagement initiatives. The practice initiatives for this Office have evolved into the UT Nursing Clinical Enterprise which creates or enhances practice settings where faculty and students integrate discovery, learning and engagement. The School has an active portfolio of practice and community engagement that is intended to assist faculty and students in achieving
practice/community engagement scholarship objectives. This work is supported by a business administrator and marketing project coordinator. These individuals oversee contracts for faculty practice sites and engagement partnerships on and off campus. The Committee on Faculty Practice and Engagement provides guidance for the practice, consultation, and contractual institutional and community education activities of the SON in collaboration with the Vice Dean for Practice and Engagement and the Faculty Practice Plan Board.
Internally, the UT Nursing Clinical Enterprise includes the Student Health Center (SHC) run by the School of Nursing since FY06-07. In September 2009, the SHC expanded from 2 to 4 exam rooms and 2 to 7 faculty Advance Practice Nurses (APNs) to improve the system of care and to expand clinical sites and faculty practice opportunities. This clinic provides additional educational opportunities while creating an accessible, effective, safe, high quality nurse-managed system of care. The SHC is designated as a site serving medically underserved populations (SITE MUP) as defined in the Texas Department of State Health Services rules [25 TAC, Sec. 13.33 9b)(2)].
The SHC team is supported by the collaborating physician, 3 faculty NPs, 1 full-time NP with faculty appointment, 1RN, 1 MA, Patient Services Rep, Business Administrator, Project, Marketing and Grants Coordinator, Quest phlebotomist and an Insurance clerk. The SHC team is a culturally diverse group including Spanish speakers.
The services provided at the SHC include: primary care, health promotion/disease prevention, immunizations, comprehensive health assessments, diagnosis and management of acute and chronic health problems including behavioral health counseling, smoking cessation and diabetes; and onsite collection of laboratory specimens.
The EHWC is located adjacent to the SHC. The EHWC staff is cross-trained and
supports the SHC for TB Surveillance, flu and other vaccine/immunization programs, periods of high volume. The partnerships that have been developed culminated annual campus wide health fairs, fun run/walks, dedication of a campus walking trail, and the launch of monthly campus-wide and UT System-wide wellness, health promotion and disease prevention initiatives.
II-C. The chief nurse administrator:
• Is a registered nurse (RN)
• Holds a graduate degree in nursing;
• Is academically and experientially qualified to accomplish the mission, goals, and expected student and faculty outcomes;
• Is vested with the administrative authority to accomplish the mission, goals, and expected student and faculty outcomes; and
• Provides effective leadership to the nursing unit in achieving its mission, goals, and expected student and faculty outcomes.
Elaboration: The chief nurse administrator has budgetary, decision-making, and evaluation authority that is comparable to that of chief administrators of similar units in the institution. She consults, as appropriate, with faculty and other communities of interest, to make decisions to accomplish the mission, goals, and expected student and faculty outcomes. The chief nurse administrator is perceived by the communities of interest to be an effective leader of the nursing unit. The program provides a rationale if the chief nurses administrator does not hold a graduate degree in nursing.
Program Response
The chief nursing administrator of the School of Nursing is Eileen T. Breslin, BSN, MS, PhD, RN, FAAN. The UTHSCSA Organizational Chart
(http://www.uthscsa.edu/op/org_chart.pdf) (Resource Room, Standard II-C-1, UTHSCSA Organizational Chart) depicts the Dean as the chief academic and administrative officer of the SON and indicates her relationship within the organizational structure as equivalent to the Deans of each of the other four schools in the UTHSCSA. For specific functions and duties of the Dean please see (UTHSCSA Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOP), Chapter 1 Administration and Organization, 2006). The Dean reports directly to the President as do the
(http://www.uthscsa.edu/op/org_chart.pdf) (Resource Room, Standard II-C-1, UTHSCSA Organizational Chart) depicts the Dean as the chief academic and administrative officer of the SON and indicates her relationship within the organizational structure as equivalent to the Deans of each of the other four schools in the UTHSCSA. For specific functions and duties of the Dean please see (UTHSCSA Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOP), Chapter 1 Administration and Organization, 2006). The Dean reports directly to the President as do the