School of Nursing receives $436,000+ grant to develop on line graduate platforms

To help stimulate an increase in the number of advanced practice nurses in the workplace, Purdue University Calumet’s School of Nursing has received a $436,192 federal grant to develop and implement an online platform for its master’s degree program.

Awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration, the grant enables Purdue Calumet to offer in distance educational format each of its graduate nursing options: family nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist in adult health and/or critical care nursing, as well as post-masters certificates in those options and nursing education.

Purdue Calumet’s School of Nursing is admitting students now for part-time study this fall in the online program.

“The grant will eliminate time and distance barriers that often prevent talented nurses from pursuing graduate education,” said Charlene Gyurko, Purdue Calumet assistant professor of nursing and principal investigator for the grant. “The need for advance practice nurses is critical for improving the level of health care delivery within our country. Purdue Calumet’s School of Nursing now will be able to reach and develop more of these nurses regionally and nationally.”

In addition to transforming curricula into a distance educational format, grant support will be used to develop innovative pod casts and train faculty members to support students’ technological needs. A distance continuous improvement plan also will be implemented to ensure quality. Faculty certification as distance educators will be mandated. Additionally, all courses must meet criteria for Inter-Institutional Quality Assurance in Online teaching.

“By removing time and space barriers we expect this initiative will lead to increased enrollments and retention by making graduate study more feasible for a diverse group of graduate students, thereby, enhancing nursing education and practice,” Purdue Calumet School of Nursing Dean Peggy Gerard said. “The School of Nursing has been involved in distance learning since 1997 and currently offers an online option within the Bachelor of Science completion program for nurses with associate degrees.”

More information about the master’s degree online curricula can be obtained by contacting the School of Nursing at 219/989-2815 or 800/HI-PURDUE, ext. 2815.

News Release Date: July 16, 2008