7. Faculty
7.3 Staffing changes
a. Staffing changes that have occurred in the last five years
Over the past five-year period the program has witnessed the retirement of 3 faculty members and one administrative coordinator: Mrs. Susan Dupre, Mrs. Denise Mitchell, and Mr. Chris Pena served as faculty; and Mrs. Rita Peerson served as
administrative coordinator. Additionally, thirteen faculty members have separated from service over the past five years: Mrs. Dayna Aysen, Mrs. Amber Berry, Mrs. Laura Blanchard, Mrs. Pamela Breaux, Mrs. Brandi Crawford, Mrs. Bridgette Dufrene, Mrs.
Michelle Dufrene, Mrs. Emily Maurer, Mrs. Susan Jan Thomas, Mrs. Kellie Graffagnino, Dr. Tom Smith, and Ms. Myra Vizier. Reasons for separation included relocation of family, return to the clinical practice environment of nursing, initiation of a new family, medical reasons, and economic reasons. The program was able to replace the majority of these positions on a full-time basis, and the remainder of faculty need was met through adjunct and overload assignments.
b. Anticipated staffing changes in the next five years
Due to the anticipated retirement of a faculty member within the next five years there will be a need for an additional community health clinical faculty. Furthermore, with the addition of the Master of Science in Nursing Program within the Department of Nursing select current BSN faculty will be transitioning into teaching primarily at the Masters level. This will necessitate replacing those faculty in the areas of adult health and mental health nursing.
7.4 Strengths or Specialties Not Existing in Present Faculty
Although the BSN Program currently has a full complement of the necessary specialties
required in the program, there is a need for an additional child/pediatric nursing specialist that is
currently filled with an adjunct faculty.
7.5 Special Faculty Services
a. Professional development activities offered through the department
The Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) Program, through the College of Nursing and Allied Health, offers approximately 6 continuing education activities per academic year to assist with meeting re-licensure requirements set forth by the LSBN.
The program is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is approved to award continuing education contact hours to registered nurses. The CNE program offers at least one faculty development activity per academic year that also awards contact hours toward re-licensure. Additionally, each new faculty member is assigned a faculty mentor to aid in acclimating to the program, department, college, and university.
Table 7.5a lists the Faculty Development CNE activities offered over the past five years.
b. Other services provided by the faculty
The value of service is recognized as an integral component of the profession of nursing and nursing education. Faculty participation in service is benchmarked at 100%
and is consistently met. Service is varied as faculty participate in community activities to include service-learning activities, Cystic Fibrosis and Susan Komen Walks, blood drives, toy drives, food drives, participation in mock-disaster drills, and others. Faculty and student participation is visible and abundant on the University campus and in the community. Service is also represented in faculty participation on committees at all levels to include University, College, Departmental, and Program. Table 7.5 details faculty involvement across the campus community.
Additionally, the Dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health is a two-term
appointed member of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN), and a member of the
LSBN Disciplinary Hearing Panel. Considering that he mission of the LSBN is “To
safeguard the life and health of the citizens of Louisiana by assuring persons practicing as
registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses are competent and safe,” it is
certainly an honor to have a member of the Nicholls State University community serve on
this board and panel.
Table 7.5
Faculty Participation on Committees 2009-2013
Committee Name Committee Level Faculty Name Term Served Academic Policies &
Standards
Academic Standing Committee
Dr. Sue Westbrook 2009-2012 Continuing Education Academic Standing
Committee
Michelle Patterson Dr. Charlene Smith
2010-2013 2009-2010 Courses & Curricula Academic Standing
Committee
Dr. Amanda Eymard 2010-2012 Distance Learning Academic Standing
Committee
Dr. Tanya Schreiber Dr. Amanda Eymard
Kimberly Dozar
2010-2013 2012-2013 2010-2012 Graduate Council Academic Standing
Committee
Dr. Amanda Eymard Dr. Bridget Guidry Dr. Tanya Schreiber
2012-2013 2012-2013 2012-2013
Grievance Academic Standing
Committee
Dr. Travis Lewis 2010-2013
Library Academic Standing
Committee
Pamela Williams-Jones 2009-2013 Research Council Academic Standing
Committee
Dr. Tanya Schreiber 2009-2013 Promotion & Tenure
Appeals
Academic Standing Committee
Dr. Shirleen Lewis-Trabeaux 2011-2013
Honors Academic Standing
Committee
Rebecca Lyons Dr. Amanda Eymard
2009-2011 2011-2013 General Education
Assessment
Academic Standing Committee
Pamela Williams-Jones Carol Hession
2009-2010 2010-2013 Human Subjects
Institutional Review Board
Academic Standing Committee
Dr. Angelique Allemand Dr. Charlene Smith
Angele Davis Dr. Tanya Schreiber
2010-2012 2010-2012 2012-2013 2012-2013 Athletics Council University Standing
Committee
Pamela Williams-Jones 2009-2013 Compensation
Committee
University Standing Committee
Dr. Todd Keller Dr. Shirleen Lewis-Trabeaux
Carol Hession Pamela Williams-Jones
Dr. Tanya Schreiber
2009-2010 2009-2010 2010-2013 2011-2013 2011-2013 Compliance University Standing
Committee
Susan Dupre 2009-2011 Discipline University Standing
Committee
Michelle Patterson 2009-2013 Social/Community
Concerns
University Standing Committee
Dr. Tanya Schreiber 2009-2013
Honorary Degree Committee
University Standing Committee
Dr. Todd Keller Pamela Williams-Jones
Dr. Bridget Guidry
2009-2010 2009-2012 2012-2013 Faculty Senate Faculty Senate Dr. Todd Keller (President)
Dr. Amanda Eymard Dr. Shirleen Lewis-Trabeaux
(Recording Secretary) Dr. Tanya Schreiber
Angele Davis
2009-2010 2009-2010 2009-2010 2010-2013 2012-2013 Committee on
Committees
Faculty Senate Committees
Dr. Shirleen Lewis-Trabeaux Dr. Tanya Schreiber
2009-2011 2011-2013 Faculty Welfare Faculty Senate
Committees
Carol Hession Pamela Williams-Jones
2010-2013 2010-2013 Hospitality,
Ceremonial, and Special Occasions
Department of Nursing Gwendolyn Barrilleaux (Chair)
Dr. Charlene Smith (Chair) Rebecca Naquin Laura Blanchard
2009-2010 2010-2013 2010-2013 2011-2013 Admissions,
Progressions, Scholarship, and Honors
BSN Faculty Assembly Dr. Todd Keller Michelle Patterson Pamela Williams-Jones
Michelle Ash Daniel Blake Laura Blanchard Dr. Charlene Smith
2009-2013 2009-2013 2009-2011 2011-2013 2011-2013
2013 2013 Curriculum BSN Faculty Assembly Dr. Bridget Guidry
Dr. Angelique Allemand Susan Dupre
Dr. Shirleen Lewis-Trabeaux Amber Ewing
Pamela Williams-Jones
2009-2013 2009-2013 2009-2013 2009-2013 2011-2013 2011-2013 Evaluation and
Research
BSN Faculty Assembly Dr. Amanda Eymard Dr. Linda Manfrin-Ledet
Dr. Travis Lewis Dr. Tanya Schreiber
Carol Hession Jeanne Hamner
Angele Davis Amber Berry
2009-2013
2009-2013
2009-2013
2009-2012
2009-2013
2009-2013
2011-2013
2012-2013
8. Departmental Objectives Related to the Program 8.1 Annual Plans for Program
The Annual Plans of the past five years represent the evolving Departmental Goals/Objectives/Outcomes in response to the evolution of the university and the college.
Additionally, changes in accrediting and approval bodies, student population and stakeholders have also effected change.
Departmental Objectives/
Results/ Use of Results 2012
Departmental Objectives/
Results/ Use of Results 2011
Departmental Objectives/
Results/ Use of Results 2010
Departmental Objectives/
Results/ Use of Results 2009
Departmental Objectives/
Results/ Use of Results
2008 Goal:
Ensure quality assessment strategies
Measure:
# of clinical courses utilizing Live Text (LT).
# of newly developed rubrics for course assignments linking key elements to SLOs, Standards, and/or BSN Essentials.
Analyze assessment reports through LT.
Results:
Goal met. Implementation plan of LT in progress.
Continuing with rubric development. 75% (6/8) of clinical courses are utilizing rubrics through LT for key assignments. Currently, the Care Map document/rubric, which is a critical document respective of inclusive assessment, critical thinking, and major concepts, is linked to the CCNE Standards, BSN Essentials, and Program SLOs. The Assessment Coordinator, Dr. Angelique Allemand aids and assists faculty in rubric development and launch in LT. Reports/data sets are analyzed as a comparison of start vs. end of the semester in regard to student proficiency. Inter-rater reliability is also garnered through LT which allows reflection and insight into rubric construction and expected course outcomes.
Beta testing continues.
Goal:
Increase opportunity for professional nursing education.
Measure:
Assess # of cognate and core courses that must be developed/transformed to support the RN-BSN online Program.
Establish open dialogue with support departments regarding development and/or offering of requisite courses via online platform.
Establish timeline for recruitment strategies and program implementation.
Results:
Goal Met. Continuing to explore opportunity for movement to 100% on-line offering of RN-BSN program. Dialogue has occurred at the college and university level regarding the need/offering of cognate courses in on-line format.
Currently, five (5) courses remain offered via land-based format (AHSC 220, AHSC 221, CHEM 109, PSYC 101, SOCI 204).
With curriculum revisions implemented in fall of 2011, NURS 228, Gerontic Nursing Care Concepts, will be offered in hybrid format and will be easily adapted to on-line format for the RN-BSN student. Additionally, only two (2) remaining nursing elective courses remain available in land-based format (NURS 311, NURS 460). A fall 2013 time-line for the on-line offering of these courses is expected. Currently, 75%
(6/8) elective nursing
Goal:
Provide quality advising in nursing education.
Measure:
100% of nursing faculty will utilize Blackboard platform to enhance advising and communication.
# of faculty who are Master Advisors
(50% of tenured faculty, 100% of new faculty) Once funded, utilize/access the Department of Nursing’s Diversity Director’s office to assist with minority student advising/remediation strategies/resources aiding students in program completion
Results:
Goal Met. 100% of nursing faculty utilize Bb platform to communicate with advisees. Each faculty are assigned an average of 20-30 advisees; in addition, faculty advise students on a daily basis outside of assigned advisees to include walk-ins, transfer inquiries, via information expo’s, major’s fair, etc.
Overall, 74%(17/23) of the nursing faculty attained Master Advisor Certification status; Of the tenured faculty, 83% are certified; of the faculty with less than 3 years in the position, 60%
(3/5) hold Master Advisor Certification. Scheduling conflicts with CAFÉ offerings and clinical
Goal:
Promote and implement NSU/Fletcher RN-BSN Articulation Plan beginning Fall 09.
Measure:
Develop NSU/Fletcher RN-BSN Articulation student/advisor worksheet.
Advertise on NSU/Nursing and FTCC website.
Recruit and track # of NSU/Fletcher RN-BSN participants from admission to graduation.
Results:
Goal Met. Articulation Plan in place. Joint Report submitted by NSU/FTCC to Assoc. Commissioner of Academic Affairs for the BOR assuring maximum transfer credits; crosswalk in place; continue to promote RN to BSN articulation; FTCC ASN pass rate 75% for 1st cohort graduating class December 2009; there are no students at this time to track.
Continue to work diligently/open communication with University Admissions as they also receive inquiries relative to transfer students.
Goal:
Promote faculty advising development/participation to support opportunities to enhance
retention/graduation efforts.
Measure:
Track # of faculty who are master advisors.
Assign 50% of tenured faculty to attend and complete master advisor certification.
# of faculty attending CAFÉ presentations.
Faculty attend at least one CAFÉ presentation.
2% increase in
retention/graduation rates.
Trended graduation rates.
Increase departmental/UC liaison by one.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate >
80%.
100% clinical nursing students participate in on-line ERI testing and mandatory remediation as indicated.
Results:
Overall, goal met. 52%
(14/27) of faculty have attained status of master advisor; 57% of tenured faculty are master advisors;
NOTE: For APA 07, 14.8% of faculty were master advisors reflecting for calendar year 2008, a 37% increase in
participation. While faculty have attended and presented at CAFÉ offerings, faculty reporting
courses are offered in on-line format.
mechanism via common-forms does not delineate CAFÉ attendance; will need to devise accurate method of reporting CAFÉ attendance;
Retention/Graduation formula set forth by the LSBN for consistency in reporting for all LA schools. The rate is determined by the cohort students who graduate the BSN Program in 9 semesters or 150% of the actual six (6) clinical semesters, from the point of entry, N225, and for the ASN Program, 7 semesters from the point of entry, N107. Hence, the retention/graduation rates for calendar year 08 for the spring 05 cohort was 85%, exceptional session 05 was 65%, and for fall 05, 64%.
Note: ES 05 was not mandated. Also, the fall 05 cohort was likely affected by the impact of Hurricane Katrina. This reflects a decrease in
retention/graduation rates for fall cohort 03 and fall cohort 05 of 19.7%. ASN Program: the
graduation/retention rate for the fall 2006 cohort was 50%. In comparison to the fall 2005 cohort
graduation/retention rate of 50%, no growth was realized. The ASN program admitted its final class in fall of 2007.
To date, the Department of Nursing continues to utilize nursing faculty as liaisons to University College to assist in preparing/advising students who choose nursing as their major.
Currently, three faculty, plus a newer faculty member being mentored by a seasoned liaison, participate in this role.
NCLEX-RN pass rate for BSN Program for calendar year 2008 was 89.47%. In comparison, the National Mean NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2008 was 86.73 and the LA State Mean NCLEX-RN pass rate was 90.21. NOTE: To date, admissions to the BSN Program has increased by
125% of the original base.
ASN Program pass rates remains at 100%. In the effort to increase NCLEX-RN pass rates, 100% of clinical nursing students participate in ATI’s total testing plan. Nursing students who are unsuccessful on the exams must remediate and re-test in order to strengthen areas of weakness.
Goal:
Promote student
engagement through critical thinking.
Measure:
Assign one course from each level of program to implement QEP rubric for critical thinking.
Identify activity in each course for which critical thinking rubric is utilized, for assessment, and publish in course syllabi.
Utilize Live Text as venue for submission of assignment with implementation date of fall 2012.
Results:
Goal partially met. In lieu of intense preparations for the spring 2013 accreditation site evaluation, the need to prioritize the addition of the QEP critical thinking rubric to an assignment was weighed. Since and with the Care Map Rubric redesign and on-going evaluation through LT, and the fact that the rubric was developed and linked using the BSN Essentials, CCNE Standards, and program SLOs, further enabled the assessment of student progression in critical thinking. As a component of program assessment, this was a critical factor to prove to the site evaluators.
Implementation of the QEP rubric for critical thinking will be implemented in fall 2013, in at least one course.
Goal:
Promote faculty-student partnership in major.
Measure:
Maintain nursing faculty as liaisons to University College (UC).
Admissions committee, along with faculty, to participate on rotational basis to information expos, recruitment activities, major’s fair, etc.
Each UC student reaching 30 credit hours is assigned to a nursing faculty as their permanent advisor.
Institute advising plan as a policy for sophomore students transitioning from UC to Nursing as their major.
Results:
Goal Met. Nursing faculty remain in role as liaisons to University College.
Liaisons have increased in number from three (3) to five (5) in order to better serve students and faculty.
Two faculty who began in fall of 2011were mentored in role.
Advising/recruitment /retention remains a vital component of nursing education. Faculty continue to participate in info expos, major’s fair, colonel’s day, etc. Also, students reaching 30 credit hours are officially assigned a nursing faculty as their permanent advisor.
Students are required to meet with their assigned advisor in the effort of assuring retention and graduation. Curriculum worksheets are instituted;
UC advisors assigned to nursing are duly apprised of the curriculum and open dialogue is always
Goal:
Enhance diversity of nursing faculty.
Measure:
Advertise beyond traditional mechanisms to reach a broader scope of potential nursing faculty applicants in the aim of hiring minority faculty when position available.
Results:
Goal not met as faculty who separated from the department were not replaced secondary to budget constraints at the University level. Incumbent faculty, via overloads, filled the necessary clinical teaching voids. Plan to hire/replace vacant faculty positions and advertise to attract a diverse faculty applicant pool.
Goal:
Provide quality instruction in nursing education.
Measure:
100% of nursing faculty will attend CNE faculty development activity offered.
Item #40 on SIR Quality of Instruction, > 3.5.
Results:
Goal met for faculty attending faculty development CNE offered (one faculty member on FMLA); Quality of Instruction: 88.46%
(23/26) of the faculty received > 3.5. Of the three faculty that did not meet the indicator, one was for a new course prep, one continues to be in faculty development/action plan, and the last was a faculty non-reappointment. Will continue to monitor.
Continue to offer required faculty development CNE programs; new faculty to attend, as feasible, new faculty development seminars hosted by the University.
Goal:
Promote
retention/graduation of minority students.
Measure:
Link at-risk minority students with minority faculty.
Utilize ERI remediation strategies; track numbers.
Report # of minority students enrolled in clinical courses.
Initiate tracking of graduation/retention rate of minority students.
Results:
Goal met. Continue to promote retention and graduation of minority students. Continue to offer to link at-risk minority students with minority faculty. ATI testing is and continues to be available as a strategy to strengthen content areas and computer testing experience/skills.
As of fall of 2008, 15%
(55/364 BSN students) represented minority enrollment. Tracking mechanism initiated in 2008, will trend minority graduation/retention rates.
Currently, the Dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health is exploring initiatives relative to the intent/implementation of a Diversity Director for the Department of Nursing.
supported.
Goal:
Promote faculty participation in grantsmanship.
Measure:
Chair of the BSN
Committee on Research and Evaluation to provide in-service/facilitate promotion of grant teams and initiatives.
Initiate at least one new grant team with submission and funding within reporting year.
# of grants submitted and funded.
Results:
Goal met. The value of scholarly activity and need for external funding to further achieve the mission and vision of offering excellence in nursing education is further facilitated by and through grantsmanship. Dr. Eymard, Chair of the Committee on BSN Evaluation and Research, conducted a grant writing workshop for all faculty on 11/26/12.
Additionally, in 2012, a total of five (5) grants were submitted by various faculty teams totaling $273,054, plus the continuation of the remaining contract year of the Nurse Family Partnership grant totaling
$352,743. Of those grants, three (3) were LEQSF grants with one further partnering with Thibodaux Regional Medical Center for
$25,000, and one other, a interprofessional grant for simulation lab initiative between nursing and dietetics.
Goal:
Promote access to nursing education.
Measure:
Assess # and point of origin of LPN and RN to BSN students to NSU.
Establish communication with Baton Rouge Community College to attract their graduates for articulation.
Results:
Goal Met. In 2011, six (6) LPN to BSN students were enrolled at various levels in the nursing program; only one (1) RN-BSN was enrolled in N417, but subsequently withdrew due to personal reasons.
Continue efforts to recruit/retain/graduate these students. Also, contact was made with BRCC by BSN Program Director as recruitment initiative.
Goal:
Provide and ensure quality/professional nursing education.
Measure:
Track # of faculty who attend CAFÉ presentations.
Track # of faculty who attend CNE faculty development activities.
100% of nursing faculty will attend at least one CAFÉ and/or CNE faculty development offering in the calendar year.
Results:
Goal met. 100% of the nursing faculty attended at least one CAFÉ presentation (Digital Measures) as well as a Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) faculty development activity. In the spring of 2010, a faculty development CNE activity centered on the presentation of and preparation for the Certified Nurse Educator exam. Also, in the fall of 2010, a critical/mandatory faculty development activity was offered on item writing and test construction.
Goal met. 100% of the nursing faculty attended at least one CAFÉ presentation (Digital Measures) as well as a Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) faculty development activity. In the spring of 2010, a faculty development CNE activity centered on the presentation of and preparation for the Certified Nurse Educator exam. Also, in the fall of 2010, a critical/mandatory faculty development activity was offered on item writing and test construction.