Work Learning Program

• A dedicated room with furnishings and a computer for online class lectures and assignment completion

There will be dedicated faculty mentorship (2hrs) once per month upon request during the semester that will be open to all WLP students in addition to regular faculty office hours. 

Bridge Learning, which involves learning from the experiences of current/former students, will be available in the form of peer tutoring. Specifically, there will be a peer tutor dedicated to statistics/methods and academic writing. 

• Orientation, study support information, and links​

• Dedicated faculty mentorship​

• Workshops on professional and educational topics ​

• Set of on-site course textbooks in dedicated WLP learning space 

WLP cohort students will have ‘check-in’ meetings once per semester where they will have the opportunity to discuss their progress and needs.

We have learned from the pilot study that being in a cohort strongly gives students a sense of belonging and support. 

• Students complete their courses as a team​

• Collaboration during weekly study times​

• Workshops to showcase student projects​

• WLP student scrubs​

• “Check-in” meetings

A WLP program coordinator, Janet Otachi, will manage all aspects of the program. The program coordinator will be responsible for coordinating all WLP activities and serving as a liaison between the CON, CSW, UKHealthcare, and ESH. 

Chizimuzo Okoli will be the faculty liaison for this program; Tanna McKinney and Marc Woods will be the ESH Liaisons. 

• Program coordinator assistance throughout the program​

• Faculty mentors​

• Peer mentors/tutors

As University of Kentucky employees, ESH staff are eligible to have 6 credit hours of course work per semester paid through employee benefits. 

ESH intends to ensure that the participant will have a secure job commensurate with their academic achievement upon completion of their respective programs. (I.e. upon completion of degree, hospital commits to keep nurse as an employee)

• Credit hours are covered as an employee benefit​

• Up to 2 hours/week as paid coursework time​

• Job commensurate with academic achievement upon program completion

This presentation gives more detail about those that participated in the Work Learning Program. 

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Johna's Story

“I felt like getting through the BSN program would be pretty stressful while working full time, but when I heard about the Work Learning Program I thought it would be a great opportunity.  Studying with my peers and discussing the class work with people that were going through the same course load was extremely helpful.”

And what did her work colleagues think of the quality of her work while going through the program?

A colleague of Ms. Arnett’s described Johna and her work team this way: “You are so incredibly inspiring, trying and seeing through a new medication that has allowed this patient to go home to their family! I am incredibly grateful to work with each of you and be a part of this innovative work. Pat yourselves on the back - you deserve it!"

Johna Arnette, BSN, RN, completed her BSN August 2019 as part of the inaugural RN to BSN Work Learning Program (WLP) at Eastern State Hospital. She is currently back in the Work Learning Program as a Doctoral student and will begin year 2 of her studies toward a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. She completed her ADN at Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lawrenceburg campus in 2015. As a WLP RN to BSN student in the UK College of Nursing, she completed a research paper on Staffing Requirements in Psychiatric Facilities to Decrease Staff Injury. Her capstone was Aggressive Behavior in Psychiatric Patients and Nursing Interventions. She wanted to do the WLP program because she wanted to work closely with co-workers and be able to lean on them throughout the process. Her areas of interest are psychiatric nurse leadership. While in the WLP program, Johna was promoted to a Patient Care Manager position. She was also inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honors Society in Spring 2019. Johna has been married to her husband, Jeff, since 2016. They have a 14-year-old Border Collie-Australian Shepherd mix named Harley and a cat named Dora who is 5.

On a scale of 0 being ‘not at all beneficial’ to 5 being ‘extremely beneficial’, to what extent do you anticipate that the following components may enhance your experience in your DSW or DNP program through the WLP opportunity?

On a scale of 0 being ‘not at all beneficial' to 5 being ‘extremely beneficial', to what extent do you anticipate that the following components may enhance your experience in your DSW or DNP program through the WLP opportunity?

Download

Elizabeth Smith

Evaluation of Dyad Effectiveness in a Psychiatric Healthcare Facility

Johna Arnett

DNP Project Proposal (in progress): Aggressive Behavior in Psychiatric Patients and Nursing Interventions

Kevin Bryant

DNP Project Proposal (in progress): Substance Misuse Among People Living with Psychiatric Illnesses

Lella Still

Capstone Project Proposal: Enhancing caring contacts for inpatient discharges from a State inpatient psychiatric hospital to a community mental health center (CMHC- New Vista)

Marc Wood

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Health Access Behaviors of Behavioral Health Nurses Regarding Suicide Prevention

Michelle Van Outer

DNP Project Title: Improving engagement and structural empowerment through the Co-creation of a shared governance program of nurse leaders and direct care nurses.

Tanna McKinney

The Effect of an Educational Intervention on Clinical RN Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Shared Governance Program at Eastern State Hospital

Zakery Sloan

Neuroleadership: a New Burnout Prevention Strategy