NEON PROJECT
Survey of Distance Learning Nursing Master's Degree and Certificate Programs
The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education's (WICHE) NEON Project has conducted an email survey to gather relevant information to address the nursing faculty shortages in the 15 western WICHE states. The survey was emailed to 61 Schools and Colleges of Nursing on September 14, 2004 . Twenty-five (41%) institutions responded, of which 23 offered graduate level programs at-a-distance
at-a-distance or through short intensive face-to-face experiences.
The survey focused on Master's Degree and certificate programs offered at-a-distance by public and private western nursing schools. For purposes of this survey, a “distance program” is one that requires the student to come to campus only occasionally for such events as: orientations, intensive courses, clinical experiences, or academic meetings. Typically, distance programs do not require on-campus participation more than three or four times in an academic year; although some more frequent on-campus requirements are included in this survey report. Distance programs use a variety of interactive technologies to deliver coursework, such as: computer-based, web-based online technology and software; synchronous and asynchronous desktop video, interactive room-size video, and the like. Some programs use a combination of technologies.
Also included in the results are a few "intensive" certificate programs that require the student to travel to the institution, but the coursework is completed in a short timeframe. Usually these "intensive" programs require no more than a week or two to complete. As with distance programs, these programs also target learners who can not afford to move to an institution, but can afford to spend a short period of time away from home pursuing their studies.
Of the 23 institutions included in this report, all offer at least one Nursing Master's Degree program that is available at-a-distance. The Maste'rs Degrees include: Master's of Science (MS), Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN), and Master's of Public Health (MPH). All of the 23 responding institutions use online computer-based technology. Room-based (interactive) video is used by three (13%) respondents; and desktop video is used by only one (4%) of the responding institutions. Distance learning technologies are sometimes combined with other learning environments: on-campus intensives, block courses, and/or on-campus seminars.
Fifteen (65%) responding institutions offer at least one Certificate program at -a -distance. Certificate programs include a variety of focus areas, such as: Post- Masters Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, Case Management, Health Care Systems Specialist, Peri-Operative Management, Gerontology, Holistic Nursing, Health Care Informatics, Forensic Nursing, Rural Health and Care of Elderly. The number of credits required to complete a certificate program range from 6 to 56 semester hours depending on the courses already taken.
Online delivery is used by 13 (87%) of the institutions offering certificates. Room-based interactive video is used by only one (7%) institution; and none use desktop video. Additional modes of learning in certificate programs include campus-based seminars and blocked one week courses, which are sometimes combined with online learning.
Eight (53%) institutions offer more that one certificate program; and one institution offers five certificate programs.
This survey demonstrates that there are multiple opportunities in the 15 Western WICHE states for nurses to complete Master's Degree and/or certificate programs at-a-distance
or through intensive experiences
in a variety of focus areas which will prepare them for both practice and faculty roles. Those programs that require frequent on-campus attendance are not as accessible as those that mainly use distance learning technologies. SURVEY RESULTS » |
