Best Practices in a Best Practices in a Consortium NP Consortium NP

Education ProgramEducation Program

Cynthia Kitson RN(EC), MNCynthia Kitson RN(EC), MN

Ginette Gilbert-Rasuli RN(EC), MScNGinette Gilbert-Rasuli RN(EC), MScN

Jennie Humbert, RN(EC), MHScJennie Humbert, RN(EC), MHSc

Suzanne Doucette RN, MHASuzanne Doucette RN, MHA

ObjectivesObjectives• Discuss how best practices are Discuss how best practices are

implemented in consortium course implemented in consortium course deliverydelivery

• Describe innovations in curriculum Describe innovations in curriculum deliverydelivery

• Describe dynamic partnerships that Describe dynamic partnerships that support best practicessupport best practices

• Discuss learner outcomesDiscuss learner outcomes

Ontario Primary Health Care Ontario Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner (NP) Nurse Practitioner (NP)

ProgramProgram

Programme ontarien de formation des Programme ontarien de formation des infirmières et infirmiers praticiens en infirmières et infirmiers praticiens en

soins de santé primairessoins de santé primaires

NP ConsortiumNP Consortium

• Ten universitiesTen universities• Part of the Council of Ontario Part of the Council of Ontario

Universities Programs in Nursing Universities Programs in Nursing (COUPN)(COUPN)

• A collaboration to provide NP A collaboration to provide NP Education more efficientlyEducation more efficiently

Consortium PartnersConsortium Partners• Laurentian Laurentian

University*University*• University of University of

Ottawa*Ottawa*• McMaster UniversityMcMaster University• Lakehead UniversityLakehead University• Queen’s UniversityQueen’s University

**Bilingual ProgramBilingual Program

• University of University of Western OntarioWestern Ontario

• University of University of WindsorWindsor

• University of University of TorontoToronto

• Ryerson UniversityRyerson University

• York UniversityYork University

Benefits of NP Benefits of NP ConsortiumConsortium

• AccessibilityAccessibility

• Standardization of a productStandardization of a product

• Cohesion vs competitionCohesion vs competition

• Pooling resources Pooling resources

• Economy of effortEconomy of effort

Challenges of NP Challenges of NP consortiumconsortium

• Consensus of the 10 universities for Consensus of the 10 universities for major change in curriculum major change in curriculum

• Geographically diversifiedGeographically diversified

• Two languages and culturesTwo languages and cultures

• Maintaining reliability of evaluation Maintaining reliability of evaluation measuresmeasures

Best practicesBest practices

A methodology that, through A methodology that, through experience and research, experience and research, has proven to reliably lead to has proven to reliably lead to a desired result.a desired result.

Definition of Best PracticesDefinition of Best PracticesDynamic ProcessDynamic Process

++EvidenceEvidence

++PracticePractice

++Program EvaluationProgram Evaluation

++Values / principlesValues / principles

Outcome measurementOutcome measurement

• Level of attrition -15%Level of attrition -15%• Success in completion of courses - Success in completion of courses -

92%92%• Success in the College of Nurses Success in the College of Nurses

licensing exam - 82%licensing exam - 82%• Learner evaluation (faculty and Learner evaluation (faculty and

course)course)• Learner satisfactionLearner satisfaction

Best practices in NP Best practices in NP consortium educationconsortium education

• Course delivery, use of distance Course delivery, use of distance modalities modalities

• Communication (learner & faculty)Communication (learner & faculty)

• Developing and maintaining clinical Developing and maintaining clinical preceptorshippreceptorship

• Consistency in course evaluation (on-Consistency in course evaluation (on-line exams & inter-rater reliability)line exams & inter-rater reliability)

Anglophone courses:Anglophone courses:• Pathophysiology for Pathophysiology for

Nurse PractitionerNurse Practitioner• Roles & Responsibilities Roles & Responsibilities

of the Nurse Practitioner of the Nurse Practitioner • Advanced Health Advanced Health

Assessment & Diagnosis Assessment & Diagnosis I & II *I & II *

• Therapeutics in Health Therapeutics in Health Care I & II *Care I & II *

• Integrative Practicum *Integrative Practicum *

* Clinical courses* Clinical courses

Francophone courses:Francophone courses:• Pathophysiologie pour Pathophysiologie pour

infirmier(ères) praticien(nes)infirmier(ères) praticien(nes)• Rôles et Responsabilités Rôles et Responsabilités

des infirmier(ères) des infirmier(ères) praticien(nes)praticien(nes)

• Formation avancée en Formation avancée en évaluation de la santé et de évaluation de la santé et de diagnostic I & II *diagnostic I & II *

• Méthodes thérapeutiques Méthodes thérapeutiques en soins de santé primaires en soins de santé primaires I & II *I & II *

• Stage d’intégration *Stage d’intégration *

Educational Delivery Educational Delivery ModalitiesModalities

• Web-based Web-based deliverydelivery

• Face to face Face to face tutorialstutorials

• TeleconferenceTeleconference

• Clinical experienceClinical experience

• Lab practiceLab practice

• Audio clipsAudio clips

• CD-ROMCD-ROM

• Expert videosExpert videos

• On-line examsOn-line exams

• Interactive quizzesInteractive quizzes

• Print-based Print-based materialsmaterials

EmailEmail

NewsgroupNewsgroup

Face to face contactFace to face contact

TeleconferenceTeleconference

ComputerComputer

FaxFax

Chat roomChat room

Course Delivery ModalitiesCourse Delivery Modalities

Print basedPrint based

Clinical Preceptor

Adminsupport

Professor

Tutor

Students

Student

Tutorial pictureTutorial picture

Communication ModalitiesCommunication ModalitiesProfessors Professors

(5 anglophone and(5 anglophone and5 francophone)5 francophone)

Tutors Tutors (30+ anglophone and (30+ anglophone and

6 francophone6 francophone)

Regional Regional co-ordinators (3)co-ordinators (3)

Francophone Francophone co-ordinatorco-ordinator

Students Students (150)(150)

Faculty Liaisons Faculty Liaisons (10)(10)

Primary Health Care Primary Health Care NP Program NP Program

Consortium CouncilConsortium Council

Clinical PreceptorsClinical Preceptors

Preceptors are critical partners in Preceptors are critical partners in meeting the curriculum and meeting the curriculum and

student learning objectives, in a student learning objectives, in a supportive clinical environment.supportive clinical environment.

Improving the Quality of Improving the Quality of PreceptorshipPreceptorship

• Access to courses objectives & content Access to courses objectives & content • Preceptor Web site Preceptor Web site • Preceptor newsgroupPreceptor newsgroup• Preceptor workshop (Clinical evaluation Preceptor workshop (Clinical evaluation

& feedback)& feedback)• Access to learner’s learning planAccess to learner’s learning plan• Tutors supportTutors support

Improving the Quality of Improving the Quality of PreceptorshipPreceptorship

• Evaluation of the preceptor by the Evaluation of the preceptor by the studentsstudents

• Evaluation of the clinical settingEvaluation of the clinical setting

• Evaluation of learning opportunities Evaluation of learning opportunities (clinical logs)(clinical logs)

Preceptorship: Strengthening Preceptorship: Strengthening the partnershipthe partnership

• Face to face networking Face to face networking opportunities opportunities

• Continuing education sessionsContinuing education sessions

• Awards, gifts (books), appreciation Awards, gifts (books), appreciation dinnerdinner

• Joint appointmentsJoint appointments

Evaluation MeasuresEvaluation Measures

• On line exam On line exam

• Case study presentationsCase study presentations

• PapersPapers

• Clinical Practice evaluationClinical Practice evaluation

• Objective Structured Clinical Exam Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE)(OSCE)

Interater Reliability Interater Reliability in Gradingin Grading

On-line Exams• Tutor/professor teleconference after the examTutor/professor teleconference after the exam• Learner anonymity is maintained Learner anonymity is maintained • One tutor marks certain exam questions for all One tutor marks certain exam questions for all

students enrolled in the coursestudents enrolled in the courseAssignments• Workshops for tutors on consistent grading Workshops for tutors on consistent grading

practices.practices.• On-Line grade report form. Grading practices On-Line grade report form. Grading practices

compared.compared.

Rationale for on line examRationale for on line exam

• Distance location of learners Distance location of learners • Maintaining exam securityMaintaining exam security• Ease of marking the examEase of marking the exam• Statistical analysis of exam questionsStatistical analysis of exam questions• Final mark computer tabulatedFinal mark computer tabulated• On line exam easily archivedOn line exam easily archived

Creating Exam Creating Exam Bank itemsBank items

• Written and reviewed by a team of practicing Written and reviewed by a team of practicing NPs and facultyNPs and faculty

• Content is derived and directly linked to Content is derived and directly linked to course outcomes course outcomes

• Answers are referenced to latest consensus Answers are referenced to latest consensus and practice guidelines.and practice guidelines.

• Accessiblity (on the web) and central location Accessiblity (on the web) and central location of exam questionsof exam questions

• Ten course professors have access for Ten course professors have access for revisions/updating revisions/updating

SummarySummary Best Practices in a Consortium NP

Education Program

• Delivery modalities meet course Delivery modalities meet course

objectives objectives

• Quality & efficient communication Quality & efficient communication

• The quality of preceptorship The quality of preceptorship

• Evaluation efficiency & consistency Evaluation efficiency & consistency

Contact UsContact Us

NP Program public web siteNP Program public web sitehttp://np-education.ca

Jennie HumbertJennie Humbert jhumb@np-education.ca

Suzanne DoucetteSuzanne Doucettesdouc@formation-iip.ca