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Case for Support Statement
Like the rest of the nation,
the Miami Valley not only needs more nurses than ever
before-it also need nurses who can do more. They must
excel in a highly technological environment, and be
ready to assume an ever-increasing amount of direct
responsibility for primary patient care. From its
founding in 1973, Wright State University's College
of Nursing and Health has been meeting the demand
for exceptionally-prepared nurses with a three-fold
mission: offering the only public-assisted university
level nursing program in the Dayton area; creating
innovative programs in community-oriented nursing;
and reaching out to current nursing professionals
with programs that upgrade their knowledge and skills.
Graduates of the college
dominate the leadership of the region's health care
institutions and agencies, providing a level of expertise
and influence that is without peer. And the College
continues to define the leading edge of nursing practice,
education, and research with recent programs such
as:
A Web-based instructional
program that makes it possible for registered nurses
to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree
online. The program, considered a model for online
instruction, is funded by a nearly $1 million grant
from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
A breast cancer screening
program for African-American women, focusing on women
between the ages of 50 to 64 with little or no health
insurance, who are stricken at a disproportionate
rate. The initiative attracted funding from the Susan
G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Master's programs designed
to bridge the health care gap in underserved communities.
Among these programs, two-Family Nurse Practitioner
and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner-won federal grants.
Three challenges now confront
the college: recruiting more diverse and academically
stronger students in the face of a shrinking pool
of applicants nationwide; ensuring that all students
are adept at using the latest patient care technology,
which is changing at a rapid pace; and attracting
and retaining the best teachers at a time when talented
nursing educators are in short supply.
In response, the College
of Nursing and Health seeks a minimum of $3 million
in support from the Campaign for Wright State University
to:
Encourage more students
to join the nursing community, $1 million. The College
currently has one of the lowest scholarships dollar/student
ratios for a WSU college. What's more, the majority
of scholarships are for full-time enrollment only,
while one-third of the College's students attend on
a part-time basis, particularly in the master's programs,
where students' concurrent nursing jobs often provide
the primary support for their family. The College
also seeks to establish a first-ever fund to underwrite
research projects by students at the undergraduate
and graduate level.
Offer the best in educational
technology, $1 million. No patient wants to be cared
for by a nurse who lacks skills in the latest clinical
technology. Computers are used in every aspect of
nursing, from patient assessment to treatment and
documentation. But technology is changing so rapidly
that the College can no longer rely on state funds
to keep pace. Now is the time to move the College's
Learning and Resource Center to the next level of
technological sophistication, particularly in the
area of virtual reality simulation stations. In addition,
the College needs to expand its distance learning
technology to reach the growing number of registered
nurses whose distance from the main campus, or work
and family responsibilities keep them from attending
conventional classes.
Attract and reward top
educator/researchers, $1 million. With endowed professorships,
the College can attract eminent nurse educator/researchers
in areas of great importance to the Miami Valley:
maternal/child health, community health, pediatrics,
geriatrics, and Nurse Practitioner education. A series
of endowed lectureships will also ensure that students
as well as nursing professionals throughout the entire
Miami Valley can stay abreast of new discoveries and
information.
The College of Nursing
and Health stands at the threshold of unparalleled
opportunity. We invite you to join us, and ensure
that the college continues to set the standard in
scholarship and clinical education-so that everyone
in the Miami Valley can lead healthier lives.
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