For more information, contact Cindy Young, (937) 775-3232.
October 15, 1999
WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES
NEW ONLINE PROGRAM FOR NURSES
A new Wright State University program will soon make it possible for nurses in Ohio to complete their bachelor's degrees in nursing online. Thanks to a $1.125 million Department of Health and Human Services grant, Wright State University's College of Nursing and Health is developing "Online Nurses: RN-BSN Program via the Internet," a program that will make it possible, beginning next spring, for registered nurses to complete their baccalaureate degrees in nursing any time or any place, with the aid of their computer.
The award, a Nursing Special Projects Grant from the department's Division of Nursing, provides for the development of the innovative Web-based instructional program designed by Barbara O'Brien, Ph.D., RN, and Alice Renner, M.Ed., in Wright State's College of Nursing and Health (CONH).
The program will include all 14 of the courses currently taught in Wright State's traditional classroom-based RN-BSN completion program. Students in the web-based program will take two courses per quarter. Clinical work will be completed in the student's home community, under the supervision of local nursing preceptors, with faculty oversight.
"Like other adults holding down a full-time job and meeting family responsibilities, the typical registered nurse finds it difficult to pursue additional education needed for career mobility. However, today's health care industry demands that nurses strengthen their leadership skills and update their technical and scientific knowledge to ensure high-quality patient care," said O'Brien, the principal investigator and RN outreach director. "With the aid of their computer, students will be able to access this program any time, any place, making it easier to juggle the demands of home life, child rearing and employment."
Designed to be a model for web-instruction, the program will incorporate multi-media, graphics, animation, case studies, online discussion groups and demonstrations via videostreaming to make the program interactive and exciting. Courses will link to the extensive health-related resources available on the Web.
Internationally recognized for his work in web-based instruction, Ali Jafari, Ph.D., will serve as expert consultant to the project. Blue Chip Computers Company in Dayton, will provide technical support for the new emerging technologies that will be used in the project.
Admission to the program is limited to 25 nurses per group. Beginning in spring 2000, there will be two admissions per year, in spring and fall quarters. For more information, contact O'Brien at (937) 775-2606, or visit the WSU College of Nursing and Health website at www.nursing.wright.edu.
