Committee Meetings and Minutes

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Nursing Advisory Committee

Meeting Minutes

Current Status of Minutes: Final
Date	November 21, 2014
Time	11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location	Eastview Campus

Members Present
No member attendance has been recorded.
Guests Present
No guest attendance has been recorded.

Item # 1:	Approval of Agenda
Presenter	Yvonne Vandyke, RN MSN
Discussion	Yvonne VanDyke motioned to add Introductions of new members to the agenda and approval of the agenda, by seconded by Toni Rowen. Ms. VanDyke requested each committee member presented at the meeting to introduce themselves and their facility.

Item # 2:	Approval of Minutes
Presenter	Yvonne Vandyke, RN, MSN
Discussion	Yvonne VanDyke motioned for approval of the Feb. 2014 minutes as presented, seconded by S. Marshall , approved by general consent.

Item # 3:	Clinical Facilities Updates
Presenter	All Members
Discussion	Acute Care: Seton: Y. VanDyke reported the Seton organization is working to become standardized in their operating procedures. The network is building a new teaching hospital in cooperation with UT Medical School at the intersection of Red River and 15th Seton is working on District projects, keeping culture competencies in mind in order to fulfill the founder's vision to assist underserved communities. Seton is preparing for a visit from Joint Commission, the students need to be informed and stay current. Visitor may ask anyone questions, students included. Seton is maintaining magnet status and hired a new director for magnet who will start soon to assist in maintaining a state of preparedness. Ms. VanDyke reminded the committee that Nursing is growing outside the hospital walls and there is a need to prepare for the future in healthcare. St. David's reported that they had great success in the GN immersion program and the SNAP program for training nurses in specialty areas. They are opening Heart Hospital of Round Rock and a PEDI Hospital at North Austin Medical Center. Kudo's to the staff, St. David's received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (the national quality award that recognizes U.S. organizations in the business, health care, education, and nonprofit sectors for performance excellence. Central Texas Medical Center: No Representative Scott and White Healthcare: No Representative Long Term Care: Cornerstone: Mr. Dinsmore reported that their census is stable, the agency has stayed full, including the new units and facilities. An in house pic line team has been formed. Education is ongoing for the nurses in the facilities. Westminster Manor: No Representative Health South: No Representative Reliant Hospital: V. Forbes reported they are currently recruiting ADN, LVN and CNA's to staff the new HOSPICE and skilled nursing units. Austin State Hospital: 500 students come through the facility every year. A new director was just hired. Twenty six (26) new graduate were hired with 14 of them coming ACC. ASH will be expanding its Nurse Education Sponsorship program with 6 of the students currently in the Mobility program. Austin State Supported Living Center: Ms. LaFavre reported ASSLC hired a new CNE this year who is restricting the staff. The current staffing ratio is 1:8 patients. The Sunset Review recently developed a review of centers and listed this center as one of the sites the Legislature should close. The population has been reduced from over 400 patients to 250. Hiring is difficult due to the publicity. Shoal Creek: No Representative Community: Lone Star Circle of Care: No Representative Travis County Jail: No Representative Dell Valley Jail: It was reported that DVJ currently has 5 RNs, 2 LVNs, and several CNA openings. The facility still has a large population of inmates.

Item # 4:	College Updates
Presenter	Pat Recek, Interim Exec. Dean of Health Sciences
Discussion	Interim Executive Dean for Health Sciences –Pat Recek reported it is always refreshing to see the support of the community to our programs. ACC had three BOND propositions on the November general election ballot. Two of three passed. The first was planning and construction for future growth to repurpose old HIGHLAND Mall. The former JC Penney's has been transformed into the accelerator with over 600 computers for student use while progressing through the Development Math and English areas at their own pace. It is amazing what has been done. The bond will fund additional renovation for Regional Simulation Lab, Culinary Arts Training areas, Regional Workforce Center etc. The Second proposition – existing campus growth and renovation. Scheduled to be renovated is the Rio Grande Campus and construction of a first responder's center at the Hays Campus. A new building at the Elgin Campus for the Health Sciences Vet Tech program will be built. In addition, a general purpose classroom building is planned for the Round Rock campus which will free existing space for Health Science programs. The tax cap was defeated by a narrow margin. M & O Maintenance and Operations of buildings. ADN-BSN Proposal at ACC- Some bond funds may be expended for an RN to BSN Program. The legislature will likely act on the recommendation from the THECB to allow selected community colleges to award BS degrees in selected disciplines. If legislation is passed and ACC selected, the goal is not to be in competition with the other BSN programs in the area, but to give students another option for obtaining a BSN. Yvonne VanDyke added that if the Coordinating Board says that ACC can offer a BSN program, the College will move forward with the plan in spite of the bond election outcome. P Recek reported that some of the concerns of the four year college is that we would not be meeting our mission and philosophy and the academic rigor offered by the Community College. In reviewing the requirements for the BSN program for accreditation we have the faculty qualification required to meet whichever accreditation we choice to obtain. Current Fredericksburg Programs: Pat Recek also reported since 1997 ACC has offered a LVN and Mobility programs at the Fredericksburg campus. The FBG community has requested Beginning Fall 2015, this area be served by Central Texas College. Austin Community College will discontinue service at the end of Summer 2015 session. Legislative approval is required. No resistance is anticipated. It was explained to the committee that Community College have taxing districts, but if a county is in our service area by not our taxing district they pay a higher rate for tuition. All ACC resources currently housed in Fredericksburg will be redistributed for use in the district.

Item # 5:	Vocational Nursing Program
Presenter	Sandra McCrary-Marshall, RN, MSN-VNG Department Chair
Discussion	Current Enrollment: COHORT Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Total By Campus EVC 37 0 20 24 81 FBG 0 0 5 0 5 Total 37 0 25 24 86 Graduates: Fall 2012=30 Spring 2013=26 Fall 2013-23 EVC & 10 FBG Spring 2014-24 EVC Fall 2014-24 EVC (Projected to graduate) PN NLCEX Pass Rates: Year End Report 2012 (January 2012-December 2012) = 90.32% Year End Report 2013 (January 2013-December 2013) = 94.55% Year End Report 2014 (Preliminary January 2014-Oct. 1, 2014) =100% Curriculum: * The program continues to implement simulation within the curriculum. Areas of content include Medical-Surgical nursing, Pediatrics and Obstetrics. Feedback from students reflects knowledge of positive learning experience. Approximate Hours of Simulation within the program Level Hours of Simulation % of Simulation I 8 12% II 16 7% III 16 7% IV 24 10% Total 64 36% * Feedback on the student evaluations of the clinical sites continues to be positive. * The program continues to expand into non acute care sites: Clinics, doctor's offices, schools, correctional facilities, and rehabilitation units, etc. * The program continues to explore articulation agreements with higher level institutions for student who wish to advance their nursing careers. Advisory Committee approval of Proposed New Curriculum * Your response from the email sent on August 5, 2014 unanimously approved the new proposed curriculum. * The New Curriculum was approved by ACC's Curriculum and Programs Committee on September 19, 2014. The VNG program will implement new curriculum revisions starting Fall 2015. Main objectives accomplished with new curriculum:  program length is shorter  course offerings maintains alignment with national standards while still allowing attainment of SLOs and program outcomes,  compliance with both the BON and the ACEN. (Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.) Currently, the VNG program contains: * 53 SCHs Total-1584 contact hours * Theory: 656 * Clinical: 928 (96 of that skills lab and 64 simulation) * Length: 6 semesters including the prerequisites A comparison of other VNG programs in the State: * SCHs: 44-48 * Length- 12-13 months http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/chs/cnws/EducReports.shtm#Vocational * ACEN: Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. New Curriculum o 43 Semester Credits o Program length – 3 semesters o TX BON=Contact Hours: compliance with the Board of Nursing requirements for the minimum contact hours for theory and clinical in a VN program. (Theory 558, minimum clinical 840 hrs.) o Comply with the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing, INC (ACEN) standards that state program length must be consistent with the policies of the governing organization, state and national standards, and best practice. See attached current degree plan. NEW-3 Semester Degree Plan Changes implemented in the new revised curriculum included: * Addition Human Anatomy and pharmacology in the first two semesters with nursing courses; these courses could be taken ahead of time and included as part of the "ranking" formula * Adding an differentiated test (ATI ) as part of "ranking" for admission. * Additional Nursing Courses: Gerontology, Nutrition, and Growth and Development. 3-semesters- Considerations/Concerns 1. Faculty main concern - student retention. (Program will be very rigorous) - 2. Shorter program does allow for student to more rapidly progress through an ADN or BSN program. 3. Students are out into the workforce earlier. V. Forbes asked Sandra if they will be looking to change their admission process to screen students prior to admission to the program. P. Recek interjected that the current curriculum was really 6 semester due to the pre-requisites required. A lot of this change was given by the funding students receive from Financial Aide. Additional Information that Sandra McCrary-Marshall shared with the Committee: In addition, I would like to alert you all too please look for an email from me the week of December 8th. The LVN Program is in the process of completing an intensive review of our program as required by the college and SACS. As a part of that review, we conduct a SWOT Assessment to look at the program's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. While we ask our faculty and key students to respond to this as well, it's extremely important that we obtain feedback from you, our stakeholders, as well. I'll keep the survey very brief. You'll be able to go into survey monkey to complete it and it will be anonymous hoping to allow you an opportunity to be candid in your responses. Thanks so much in advance! I'll be happy to provide you with a synthesis of the SWOT assessment when it's completed if you would like to see it. P. Recek interjected the National League of Nursing president a position statement about the value and significates that the LVN/LPN has in the community. They provide 50% of the care of our older adults in this country. LVN's are a very important part of the community for Healthcare. Sandra added that she included in the packet the survey from the Nursing Education Survey report.

Item # 6:	Associate Degree Nursing
Presenter	Nancy M. Walters, RN, MSN-ADN Department Chair
Discussion	I. Program Data A. Enrollment Fall 2014 516: Current Enrollment Level I Level II Level III Level IV Mobility Total 124 120 124 111 37 516 RSNG 1105 – Nursing Skills – Fall 102, Summer 88 B. Admission Cycles: Change due to Texas Board of Nursing Background Check Requirements http://www.austincc.edu/health/rnsg/deadlines.php C. Graduates Fall 2014 Anticipate 111 Summer 2014 26 Spring 2014 91 Currently we have three sites of cohort. EVC, CEC and RROS and a small cohort in FBG until that ends in August 2015. D. NCLEX Results RN Year: October 1 – September 30 2014 - 94.37% (201/213) 2013 – 90.8% (237/261) 2012 - 97.09% (267/275) II. Curriculum Updates Degree Plan responding to the mandate to award Associate Degree Programs in 60 credits submitted Implementation Fall 2015 Copy of Current Curriculum and Proposed Curriculum attached Nursing Credits = 36 General Education Credits = 24 Simulation 5-8% in each med-surg clinical course Incorporating some aspect of Electronic Health Records in all courses Questions from Committee: Y. VanDyke asked if the programs will reduce any clinical hours. Nan responded clinical hours were not decreased. Effort to utilize available time in the labs more effectively is an ongoing process. T. Rowin asked if the RNSG 2130 that was removed was the NCLEX Prep course. Nan's response was that the content and assignments from the course were incorporated into other courses in the curriculum. The HESI EXIT and Jurisprudence exam will now be given in a level IV course. III. Faculty Updates 1 Faculty completed DNP degrees Summer 2014 6 Currently enrolled in PhD or DNP programs IV. Other  THECB Grant Proposal (Simulation)  Continuing to plan an RN to BSN program pending Legislative approval. The Coordinating Board forwarded the Rand Company's report for legislative action. APIN Grant: http://www.texasapin.org/APIN/Welcome_files/RN-BSN%20Briefing%20Paper%20FINAL%20SP%2014%20%281%29.pdf Nursing Center for Workforce Studies http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/chs/cnws/EducReports.shtm#Professional

Item # 7:	Health Professionals Institute/Continuing Education
Presenter	Brenda Handley
Discussion	1. Reentry Nursing The Nurse Reentry Program is designed to meet the requirements of the Texas Board of Nursing for professional or vocational nurses who have been out of practice for 4 or more years or have inactive licenses and are seeking to have the license renewed. By the end of 2014 the 128 hour online course will be completed by an estimated 96 re-entry nurses. Seventy-two of these nurses are professional nurses, twenty-four are vocational nurses. Twenty-one were registered through the Virtual College of Texas, the rest were registered with ACC. The two day skills labs were completed by fifty-eight nurses. We depend heavily on ACC's academic programs for supporting the skills labs with the facilities of the Eastview campus and for the opportunity to utilize their faculty to staff the labs. Thus far 17 nurses have been placed for preceptorships in area healthcare facilities, many of whom are represented on this committee. We greatly appreciate their support in helping these re-entry nurses return to active practice. More information about this program is available at the nurse refresher website: http://nurserefresher.austincc.edu 2. Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) The continuing nursing education offerings meet the requirements of the American Nurses Credentialing Center and are approved by the Texas Nurses Association. They are acceptable as continuing nursing education for professional nurses by the boards of nursing in all states of the union. Co-Provider Activities: May 2–4, 2014 Texas Department of Rehabilitative Services, Division of Blind Services Texas Confidence Builder: Role of the Diabetes Educator and Consumer 9.00 CNE Hours 9 participants October 28-31, 2014 Texas Association Vocational Nursing Educators (TAVNE) Educating Vocational Nurses for Today and Building for Tomorrow 13.00 CNE Hours 275 Participants Colleen Mullins asked if ACC Continuing Education would be offering the two courses required by the Board of Nursing for Geriatric Care and Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics. The response was no, those at this point are strictly being offered by the Board of Nursing. Pat Recek responded that possibly we could offer the VNG-Gerontology through CE to meet the Geriatric Care requirement.

Item # 9:	Announcements
Presenter	All Members
Discussion	Next meeting will be scheduled in April.

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