University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 29, May 1

            Distance learning program in nursing a success
     
     Enrollment has nearly quadrupled in only five years in
the College of Nursing's innovative, distance learning
program for registered nurses leading to a bachelor of
science in nursing.
     According to Madeline Lambrecht, director of special
programs, the enrollment has grown from 82 in 1992-93 to 326
this year. The first graduating class was 15 students; this
year's graduating class is more than double that-37.
     Nurses who return to earn a BSN degree while working
full- or part-time, need flexibility-in terms of time and
location for their classes- Lambrecht said, and UD is one of
only a few schools to offer distance learning programs for
them.
     The program is offered through a partnership model
which encompasses the College of Nursing, the Division of
Continuing Education and Information Technologies' Media
Services unit. Nursing provides the courses and academic
advisement and recruits students. The classes, which are
retaped on a regular schedule, are videotaped in ITV
classrooms by Media Services. Continuing education registers
students, organizes textbook ordering, distributes the tapes
and coordinates activities associated with non-nursing
courses.
     Most of the nurses register through their work sites,
which include hospitals, wellness centers, visiting nurses
associations and corporations, although individuals also can
enroll. There are currently more than 100 active work sites.
With the exception of English 110, students can take the
majority of their courses in the distance learning format.
     Students, however, are required to spend three weekends
on campus to take three one-credit courses. "We had one
student who began the degree program while residing in New
Jersey. When her husband was transferred to Las Vegas, she
changed her work site, but she persevered and flew in for
the required campus weekends courses. She now has her
degree," Lambrecht said.
     The program has work sites in Delaware, Pennsylvania,
New Jersey and Maryland, as well as states as far away as
Florida and California.
     Clare M. Conner, nursing, recruits students, provides
advisement services for nurses participating in the program
and assists work-site coordinators who take charge of
distributing and keeping track of videotapes as well as
proctoring exams. For individuals not connected to a work-
site program, exams are given on the Newark campus.
     Support courses also are available for nurses who have
not yet matriculated in the BRN degree program and nearly
1,300 are enrolled this past year.
     Selected graduate courses also are offered in a
distance mode. For example, advanced pathophysiology is
being offered in three formats-in a classroom, via
interactive television (where students and the instructor
can interact) and by videotapes.
     Special programs' outreach activities include community
partnerships to provide continuing education opportunities
for healthcare professionals. A series of 14 oncology
lectures is being offered this spring through a partnership
between the Medical Center of Delaware Cancer Center and the
College of Nursing.
     Beginning this summer, individuals can earn continuing
education credit for each two-hour lecture by purchasing the
videotape and successfully completing the accompanying quiz.
     "We look forward to increasing our outreach activities
as a result of the approaching college merger," Lambrecht
said.
     "Modern technology has transformed the way we teach and
communicate with nursing students. Videotapes, interactive
television classes, e-mail and fax machines all are
important tools in educating today's nurses, making it
possible to offer outreach programs that meet the needs of
all levels of students in the nursing profession. In the
near future, we plan to offer web-based interaction with
selected video courses," Lambrecht said.
                                         -Sue Swyers Moncure