advising the pre-nursing student

Advising the Pre-Nursing

Student

Tips and techniques to guide Academic Advisors

Jenni Van Wyk

Shasta McLester

Megan Coble

Overview

• Why Nursing?

• What makes Nursing complex?

− Program & Prerequisites

− Admissions

• How do we communicate the complexities to

our students?

• Take-aways

• Discussion & Questions

Who we are • University of Oregon

− Research institution

− ~20,000 undergraduate

students

− No mandatory advising

• Office of Academic Advising

− Undeclared

• Caseload

− Pre-Health

− Students experiencing

academic difficulty

− Prospective

• No nursing program

• Eugene

− Lane Community

College

− Peace Health #1

employer in Lane

County

Who are you?

We are not the experts

Why Nursing? “The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2009) estimates that

employment of registered nurses will grow by 22% from 2008

to 2018. Nursing is one of the most sought after health

professional interests among students today.”

“The United States is projected to have a nursing shortage

that is expected to intensify as baby boomers age and the

need for health care grows. Compounding the problem is the

fact that nursing colleges and universities across the country

are struggling to expand enrollment levels to meet the rising

demand for nursing care.” (AACN)

• Job security

• High placement

• Rise in demand = education access

• It’s complicated…

• Degree routes

• Requirements

• Admissions method

Becoming a Nurse (RN)

Degree Routes

RN

Course Comparison Courses University of

Washington (BSN)

Lane Community

College (ASN)

Composition 2 courses 2 courses

Math 1 course 1 course

Statistics 1 course None

General Chemistry 1 year None

Organic Chemistry 1 course None

Anatomy & Physiology 3 courses 3 courses

Microbiology 1 course None

Psych (Lifespan) 1 course 1 course

Social Sciences 3-4 courses 2 courses

Humanities 3-4 courses None

Total 90 quarter credits 45 quarter credits

Application Comparison

Application

Requirements

University of Washington

(BSN)

Lane Community

College (ASN)

Application Yes Yes

Experience 100 hrs volunteer or paid

health care experience

None

Grades No grades < C No grades < C

Transcripts Yes Yes

Letters of Recc. 1 from supervisor and RN None

Proctored Essay Yes Yes

Background check Yes Yes

Personal Statement 2 Pages None

Resume Yes None

The Advising Challenge:

Developmental vs. Prescriptive

“…developmental counseling or advising

is concerned not only with a specific

personal or vocational decision but

also with facilitating the student’s

rational processes, environmental

and interpersonal interactions,

behavioral awareness, and problem-

solving decision-making, and

evaluation skills.”

(Crookston, 1972)

(Nacada, 2012)

Keeping in mind development

theories..

• Identity Development

• Intellectual & Ethical

Development

• Experiential Learning

• Moral Development

Advising

• Asking Questions

− Where is the student developmentally

− Career Advising

− What degree route is best for the student?

• Outcomes

− Developing relationships

− Critical thinking

Money

Experience

Grades

Nursing

State

Security

Family

Program

Communicating the complexity of nursing to students

Advisor responsibility & student responsibility

Challenge & Support

Website – Prospective Students

Communicating the complexity of nursing to students

Website – Prospective Students

Communicating the complexity of nursing to students

Communicating the complexity of nursing to students

• Handouts

- Degree Routes

- Course equivalencies

- 1/2/3/4-year plan

- Nursing Pamphlet

Nursing Pamphlet

Communicating the complexity of nursing to students

Communicating the complexity of nursing to students

Nursing Pamphlet

Communicating the complexity of nursing to students

Nursing Pamphlet

Facebook & Twitter

• 276 total “likes”

• Share posts from:

•Other institutions

•Non profits

•Nursing programs

• Link our information with

UO student organizations

• Ability to stay connected

w/ students during:

1. Study Abroad

2. IE3 Internships

3. Summer/Holidays

Communicating the complexity of nursing to students

How can this be applied to your institution?

• Educate students early

• Research

− On own/with students

− Advising is Teaching

• Understand your institutions courses

• Give homework

− Building relationships

• Keep asking questions

• Delegate a Pre-Nursing Advisor or liaison

• Get connected

Discussion

We want to hear from you!

• What is your story?

• What resources are you using?

• Questions

Thank you!

Jenni Van Wyk

jvanwyk@uoregon.edu

Shasta McLester

mclester@uoregon.edu

Megan Coble

mcoble@uoregon.edu

Please see your handout for the online link to the PowerPoint slides as well

as resources, contact information, Facebook and Twitter information.

References

Creamer, D.G. (2000). Use of Theory in Academic Advising. In Gordon, V.N. & Habley, W.R. (Eds.) Academic

Advising: A Comprehensive Handbook . San Francisco : Jossey-Bass, Inc., 17-24.

Crookson, B.B. (1994). A Developmental View of Academic Advising as Teaching. NACADA Journal , 14(2), 5-9.