Project Title: A Computer-Based Model for Statewide Rural RN to BSN Education
Organization Name: University of Nebraska Medical Center
Address: 985330 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5330
Project Director: Carol H. Pullen, BSN, MSN, EdD
Email: chpullen@unmc.edu Web site: http://www.unmc.edu/nursing/rn2bsndisted/
Telephone: 402-559-6548 Fax: 402-559-6379
Project Period: September 1, 1999-August 31, 2004
The legislative purpose of this project is to expedite baccalaureate education of rural registered nurses
(diploma or associate degree) using distance learning technologies. Nebraska is similar to many rural areas
and provides an ideal setting to implement this grant; all but six of our counties are designated as rural or
frontier. Approximately one-half of our rural counties are federally-designated Medically Underserved
Areas (MUAs) and/or Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). A severe nursing shortage exists in
rural Nebraska.
The majority of nursing care delivered to rural residents is provided by nurses with a diploma or associate
degree as their highest credential. Only 12% of Nebraska rural nurses have a baccalaureate degree. Yet,
the typical nurse in rural areas provides care more independently with less support, which requires a greater
diversity of knowledge and skills. The rural nurse is sometimes described as a “jack of all trades”. Rather
than focusing on one specialty, the rural nurse may be called upon to work in many specialty areas-
sometimes within a single day. A baccalaureate program in nursing prepares a nurse to function in complex
situations and in a variety of roles and health care settings by broadly educating the nurse in the physical,
social, cultural, and nursing sciences. The nurse acquires skills of health assessment, critical thinking,
systems thinking, leadership, resource management, and culturally competent care.
A distance education model allows students to receive their education in the communities in which they live
and work. Employers say they can better support their nurses obtaining a higher degree without the added
burden of “time off” to travel to take courses. Grant funding provides the development of state of the art
online courses, a laptop computer to students, an expense-paid student orientation, and expert technical
support including evenings and weekends.
Initial Successes:
• Major curriculum change that reduced the required number of credit hours for RNs
• Five courses developed/revised using state of the art distance education technologies
• Recruitment goals exceeded target goals for year 1 and year 2
• High level of student satisfaction with the program
“ Working toward the BSN has already changed the way I practice nursing.”
“I could never have received my BSN without the distance technology or computer that
was supplied.”
• Our May graduates indicate that they will remain in their rural community to practice.
Distance education will accelerate the movement to a qualified nursing workforce to meet the needs of the
next decade. The Nebraska model can be replicated in other rural areas and can serve as a model in urban
areas for delivery to working students.