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News from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
New UAMS Online Continuing Education for Nurses Is Convenient, Inexpensive
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AUG. 1, 2002 | Nurses across Arkansas now can take continuing education classes online thanks to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).
The UAMS Rural Hospital Program is offering nurses across the state opportunities to earn continuing nursing education credits online. Nurses can earn one credit for each previously recorded 50-minute class they view online. Tuition for the classes is low and hospitals with broadband Internet connections should be able to access the streaming video programs. Many home computer connections also will support the programs.
"We are very pleased to offer this new educational service to the nurses who are so vital to the health and wellbeing of the state," Charles O. Cranford, D.D.S., UAMS vice chancellor for regional programs,
said.
"The mission of the Rural Hospital Program is to strengthen hospitals by sharing resources available at UAMS," the program's director, Ann Bynum, Ed.D., commented.
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Nurses will benefit from online continuing education opportunities. This nurse was photographed at the Southwest Area Health Education Center in Texarkana, Ark. (JohnPaul Jones)
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Some rural hospitals struggle to meet the demands of health care in a changing environment. Despite limited resources, they must use advanced technologies to attract and retain highly trained professionals. With nurses in short supply across Arkansas, it is particularly difficult for rural hospitals to send nurses to distant locations for continuing education classes, yet new state requirements for licensure demand that nurses obtain more continuing education.
To help meet this challenge, the Rural Hospital Program connects affiliated hospitals to a wide variety of UAMS resources. The program has offered classes through its
interactive video network for eight years. Now the program is providing online access to
digitally recorded videotapes of the classes. Online education will give nurses greater access to continuing education, Cindy Davis,
director of nursing education in the Rural Hospital Program, said.
Nurses can view streaming video segments -- at home or work -- of classes on topics such as management of abdominal aortic aneurysms, pediatric injuries from accidents involving all terrain vehicles, and cystic fibrosis testing by logging on to the Rural Hospital Programs web site. After
establishing a password and entering basic demographic information, the nurse will view a selection of classes on various topics. After selecting and registering for a class and viewing the video, the nurse completes a general evaluation concerning the technology and quality of the program and an evaluation of his or her mastery of the information in the class. After completing the evaluations, the nurse can print a form to mail to the Rural Hospital Program. The nurse will receive documentation of the continuing education credit he or she has earned.
The cost is minimal to nurses and the program currently has 22 hospitals and clinics participating in a discount continuing education program. This program allows hospitals to provide continuing education classes, via the interactive video network or the Internet, for a minimal flat rate.
"We are so excited about the online nursing continuing education courses. The Delta Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is utilizing these services to increase the knowledge base for nurses in our area," Karan Cox, FNP, associate director of the Delta AHEC, recently commented.
Julie Hall-Barrow, M.S., associate director of program development for the UAMS Rural Hospital Program, created and oversaw the online education project, working closely with
Gary Chitty, information systems manager and other regional
program staff. Hall-Barrow also recently redesigned the Rural Hospital Program web site. Pat Pierce, a consultant to the Rural Hospital Program,
used several programming languages and RealServer "to build an exciting and responsive interactive site."
In addition to nursing classes, the Rural Hospital Program will offer continuing education in medicine, pharmacy, and public and secondary health education.
For more information about earning continuing education credit online or through the interactive video network, contact the Rural Hospital Program (501-686-2590).
Links on This Page
Rural Hospital Programs: http://rhp.uams.edu/defaultflash.htm
Interactive Video Network: http://www.uams.edu/ahec/tele1.htm
UAMS Nursing Dean: http://www.uams.edu/today/2002/020702/nursing.htm
Telemedicine Network: http://www.uams.edu/today/032901/telemed2.htm
(c) 2002 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "UAMS," "UAMS Medical Center," "UAMS Online," "UAMS Today," "uams.edu," and "Here's to Your Health" are marks of UAMS.
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08/02/02 |
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