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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

George Shuster, RN, DNSc, Gloria Birkholz, RN, JD, and Linda Petri, MA. University of New Mexico: College of Nursing, MSC 09 5350, albuquerque, NM 87131-001, 505-272-5612, gshuster@salud.unm.edu

Web-based public health nursing courses are an important part of RN-BSN education. The flexibility and anywhere anytime access of Web-based courses helps overcome many barriers for RN-BSN students including travel to a classroom, full-time work, and family obligations. RN to BSN student learning needs clearly differ from those of basic baccalaureate students.

As part of an effort to address these needs our College offers a fully web-based 8 course online BSN program to a largely rural state with significant Hispanic and American Indian populations. Two of these courses are in public health nursing.

Methods. All eight courses of the RN to BSN web-based program were self evaluated by the faculty instructors and by a peer emeritus faculty using the Robert Wood Johnson Partnerships for Training Learner-Centered Online Instruction Evaluation Instrument. The final 1.1 version of the instrument, used in this study has a total of 54 questions divided into 6 subscales. The subscales are: instruction, facilitation, interactivity, interaction, self-direction and motivation, and assessment and feedback. Each subscale has between 7 and 10 questions scored by using a one to five scale Likert-type measure with one indicating a particular the question was not a priority and five identifying expertise.

Results. Faculty rated themselves as expert in a few criteria under only 3 subscales: instruction, interaction, and assessment and feedback. Faculty overall rated themselves lower in most areas compared to the peer evaluator, with faculty rating themselves lower in 69% of the 54 categories as compared to the peer. In 26% of the criteria faculty rated themselves higher than the peer evaluator.

Course and Program Revisions. As a result of this evaluation the process of changing the Web-based program involved: individual feedback and consultation to RN to BSN faculty, full faculty presentations, and establishment of a Web task force. Other revisions included standardizing Web homepage templates, revising courses in the program and integrating Web specific course and program evaluations.

Work Funded by HRSA grant # 1D11HP00706-010

Learning Objectives: