BY LYNNE JETER

To alleviate the state's nursing shortage problem, the University of Mississippi School of Nursing has launched an accelerated baccalaureate nursing program.

The 15-month accelerated second degree baccalaureate of science in nursing program is the first of its kind in Mississippi offered by a public institution.

"The School of Nursing developed a strategic plan in 2004 that challenged us to demonstrate leadership in providing innovative educational programs to help address the nursing shortage, said Kaye Bender, dean of the School of Nursing at University Medical Center (UMC). "We had noted that approximately 25-30 percent of the undergraduate admissions each year were students who already had a degree. We think this approach will be a popular one that will assist us in reaching our goal of educating more nurses for the healthcare workforce."

Bender has long championed more educational options for nurses, particularly during her 26-year tenure at the Mississippi State Department of Health. She earned an associate's degree in nursing from Jones County Junior College in 1972, a bachelor's degree in nursing from UMC in 1983, a master's degree in community health nursing from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1985, and a doctoral degree in clinical health sciences from UMC in 2001. Her dissertation research focused on the evaluation of a 10-year project to reduce preterm labor in Mississippi funded by Medicaid. The model is now being used in an evaluation of school health services in the state.

"I'm committed to working toward improving the health of the citizens of Mississippi, even if it's just one activity at the time," said Bender.

According to the Mississippi Office of Nursing Workforce, the statewide vacancy rate for hospital RNs is 7.9 percent, and for hospital LPNs, it's at a three-year-high of 12.1 percent.

The Department of Health and Human Services/Health Resources and Services Administration made the second degree possible with a three-year, $750,000 grant. A primary goal of the program is to increase enrollment in the undergraduate degree-prepared RNs by 25 percent in three years, with a special focus on recruiting a more diverse student population.

"This cutting-edge program will go a long way in filling the critical need for RNs in the state," said Dr. Theresa Doddato, principle investigator of the grant. "We anticipate it being a model that can be replicated in other nursing schools throughout the state."

Five traditional baccalaureate students were selected from the Class of 2008 to participate in the new program, and are expected to complete the course of study in August 2007. Students will be admitted once a year in May and will complete the full-time program in four semesters.

Students in the program "bring rich life experiences and multiple perspectives to the classroom," said Dr. Jean Walker, project director for the grant. "They're able to critically think and really thrive on the fast-paced curriculum."

Based on a multigenerational population-based model, where students follow a family throughout their curriculum for clinical learning, the program incorporates "on-the-spot" learning through the use of technology such as PDAs.

Community care in underserved urban and rural areas is another focus of the program's clinical experiences. Students will have the opportunity to study in the university hospitals and clinics in various settings and also at three faculty-run clinical sites: UNACARE, the Tiger Paws Clinic at Johnson Elementary School and the Mercy Delta Express Project.

"One of the best aspects of this program is the learning style with one-on-one clinical experience with our instructors," said Sally Proffitt, a student in the first accelerated second degree program. "With a previous degree and career, it's exciting to be able to focus on the nursing skills and education at an accelerated pace."