The Graduate Nursing Program of Florida International University (FIU) College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS) has been selected to participate in a multi-center research project examining the utility of the Harvey® Cardiopulmonary Patient Simulator in educating advanced practice nurses in the skills of cardiovascular assessment.

FIU joins the advanced registered nurse practitioner programs from three other universities to participate in this study: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Texas Tech University and the University of Pittsburgh.

FIU Nurse Anesthetist students conduct simulated clinical session with Harvey® Cardiopulmonary Patient Simulator.

In 2002, following a donation from the Miami Heart Research Institute through its Joan K. Stout Nursing Fund, FIU began utilizing a Harvey simulator in its undergraduate and graduate nursing curriculums.

Jeffrey Groom, PhD, CRNA, Director and Clinical Associate Professor of the FIU Anesthesiology Nursing Program and his colleague Lucie Dlugasch, MSN, ARNP, Clinical Assistant Professor, will be co-investigators on the project representing FIU.

"The increasing use of patient simulators in clinical instruction is one of the most significant developments in nursing education programs across the country," explained Divina Grossman, PhD, RN, ARNP, FAAN, Dean of the FIU College of Nursing & Health Sciences. "We’re very proud that our Graduate Nursing Program has been selected as one of only four participants nationwide for this vital research project," she said. "It is certainly a reflection on the strength of our faculty and programs at FIU."

Maxine Thomas, risk manager for St. Anne’s Nursing Center at the Catholic Health Services South Campus in Miami, is determined to receive her RN degree. But having an extremely busy schedule working full time, parenting and continuing her education, it has been quite the struggle. When Maxine first heard about Career Learning Centers, a large weight was lifted off her shoulders. Career Learning Centers offers an accelerated LPN to RN bridge program that was specifically designed to include a mix of face-to-face tutoring, self-paced study materials, and online tutoring to ensure success on examinations, and all in a format that fits the busy schedule of an adult student.

(front l-r) Maxine Thomas and Katherine Thompson
(back l-r) Theresa Harris and Vanessa Munoz

Maxine was ready to follow her dreams and finish her degree but still found the challenge of driving over 50 miles each way to the Career Learning Centers, in Fort Lauderdale quite daunting. Always thinking big, Maxine inquired about setting up a "host facility" location at St. Anne’s Nursing Center.

Happily, Career Learning Centers agreed and promised that with every (10) students that signed up per facility, they would award one scholarship, as well as, extend a 15% discount to the staff of Catholic Health Services. Currently, there are fifty students registered at St. Anne’s. Twenty percent are employees of Catholic Health Services, the rest are from the surrounding community. CLC has over 400 students enrolled in both their Fort Lauderdale and Miami locations. The average class size is under 15 students, which allows for greater personal attention. To her delight, Maxine is now part of this program as well as many others who have signed up and are headed toward finishing their dream.

(l-r) Maxine Thomas and Katherine Thompson – first two awarded Scholarship Programs at St. Anne’s Nursing Center

"We hope to continue to grow our student population at St. Anne’s and are dedicated to helping nurses in this very diverse community reach their educational and career goals. We here at Career Learning Centers (CLC) are excited to announce that we are currently working on the licensure for a LPN program that will be taught both in Ft. Lauderdale and SW Miami. Soon we will be adding to our offering other allied health programs as well as a CNA program! Lastly, we would like to employ instructors from the South Miami area as well as St. Anne’s to encourage community involvement while tackling the nursing shortage together," says Milly Wodarz, Admissions Representative for Career Learning Centers.

The presence of Career Learning Center at the CHS South Campus has been a wonderful experience for all its employees. It provides them the opportunity to have on-site education, less staff interruptions thanks to flexible schedules, has energized the campus and motivated staff anticipating future potential for career advancement for CNAs and LPNs. The program expects to open the doors to the community by providing seminars and continuing education opportunities. "The teachers are great, the classes are extremely helpful and they are all geared towards nursing, even the prerequisites", comments Katherine Thompson, St. Anne’s Nursing Center.

In today’s constantly changing healthcare environment, ongoing learning is essential to the high quality medical care provided at Jackson Health System.

Nurses are challenged with rapidly changing technology, changing demographics of patients, a nationwide nursing shortage and increasing regulatory demands. Responding to such challenges requires technical competence, effective time management skills and cultural understanding.

The Jackson Health System Department of Education and Development – an approved provider of continuing education from the Florida State Board of Nursing – focuses on supporting the goals of the organization by building on the knowledge of the clinical staff through continuing education. A variety of methods, such as live presentations in the classroom, simulations, web-based learning, videos and small group discussions, are used as teaching tools to achieve the desired results for learners.

Courses offered at Jackson are available to nurses throughout the community and cover all facets of medical care, including specialty internships, such as critical care, how to respond to medical emergencies and to how to handle aggressive patients in a supportive and responsive manner.

To ensure that the educational programs are effective, educators complete a number of evaluations of the nurse participants. Nurses are tested on what they have learned and the skills they have acquired. They are also evaluated on how the lessons learned can be applied in a clinical setting through observation. In addition, participants and their supervisors are surveyed several months after the continuing education program is completed to follow-up on their progress and measure the program’s success.

On the job training has consistently proven to show an increase in skills and abilities of the nursing staff at Jackson. While continuing education opportunities are readily available, nurses are ultimately responsible for engaging themselves in ongoing competency development and for identifying their specific learning needs.

The professional development of the nursing staff is directly linked to effective performance, positive patient outcomes and the financial viability of the organization.