Dear Colleagues in Nursing,

The CLN Council of Deans and Directors had a strong and productive academic year. The Council, which is comprised of deans, directors and chairs from schools of nursing in the State of Connecticut representing all entries into nursing practice: LPN, Associate, Baccalaureate, LPN - RN, RN - BSN, Master’s and Doctoral levels, began the year engaging with our new meeting structure. We continued to meet regularly as a council of Deans and Directors, collecting and disseminating information on current issues and concerns that affect nursing education, nursing practice and health care in our state. Built on prior year relationship-building, this year we expanded our meeting schedule to include statewide nurse educators four times a year and the Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs).  This allowed the opportunity to expand our influence to ensure a robust nursing workforce for the state. 

• We conducted three joint meetings with the CHA educator group to facilitate dialog on common issues that affect both groups. From theses collaborative efforts, additional joint work groups were identified. These work groups focused on the following three issues: 1) why nurses are leaving the bedside, 2) what graduate education is available in the state and 3) create options for an innovative joint role utilizing both academia and practice settings. Each work group completed a comprehensive set of meetings and submitted recommendations to the larger group of nurse educators which were finalized on March 2, 2020. 

• The council, in fulfillment of our goal to establish stronger relationships with the CNO’s in the healthcare facilities, met with this group on June 18, 2019 and February 11, 2020. The product of the workgroups was shared to the great acceptance and enthusiasm of the CNOs.  A June 16, 2020 follow-up meeting is scheduled.

• The collaboration with CLN Leadership and the Connecticut Department of Public Health to implement, analyze and report out information gathered via the national minimum dataset for Education was conducted again this year. This dataset continues to capture both demographics for nursing faculty and students within the pre-licensure nursing pipelines, as well as, measures program capacities, enrollments, attrition and graduation rates.

• Continued to support CLN’s Healthcare Simulation Network of Connecticut (HSNCT) to develop and expand expertise and capabilities of our simulated teaching and learning directors, faculty and staff that will enhance our curriculum and student outcomes.

• The Council continues to support and promote CLN’s collaborative on- the-ground and online educational opportunities.  A special thank you to the faculty who developed and are teaching these courses to provide valuable educational opportunities for nurses across our state and nation:

• The Online Clinical Faculty Course since its inception has educated over 300 nurses from Connecticut and around the country. This Course is offered four times throughout the year.  Participants have provided very positive feedback about the Course and its content.

• The RN Refresher Course has been approved by several State Boards of Nursing, and the content has been approved by the ANCC for a total of 90 CEs for completion of the four modules.  This Course is offered four times throughout the year. 

• Standing items on the Council’s agenda such as educational initiatives from CLN, policy issues from CNA and updates from the Department of Public Health continue to be monitored and acted upon.

• Importantly, Deans and Directors mobilized collaborative efforts through the use of twice-weekly conference calls and email communication at the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic. We organized six (6) work groups, to address the myriad of issues brought about by COVID-19 to continue educating nursing students and ensure a robust nursing workforce for the state. 
  • Communication with the Board of Nurse Examiners (BOEN)
  • Academic Progression Policies
  • Workforce Evaluation
  • Transition to Practice issues
  • APRN Clinical Experiences
  • Summer Clinical Experiences for RN and LPN students

​As a collaborative group of nurse educators, the CLN Council of Deans & Directors commenced quickly and effectively to ensure quality throughout the academic year and continuity throughout this pandemic.  These efforts were built on a strong foundation of trust, collegiality and a shared mission to ensure quality nursing care for the State of Connecticut.  We wish to thank Marcia Proto for her many years of service to this organization, and the entire staff of CLN for their dedication and unwavering support to nursing education across the state of Connecticut and beyond!

Respectfully submitted,
CLN Council Co-Chairs
Meredith Wallace Kazer, PhD, APRN, FAAN, Fairfield University Egan School      
Janice Watts, MSN, RN, Goodwin University

The Finance Committee membership is comprised of the Officers (President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer) and the two appointed members of the Board who make up the membership of the Executive Committee.

It is the responsibility of the Finance Committee to monitor the monthly income and expenditures and recommend to the Board yearly budgets and long-term financial plans for the organization. The committee met and approved a budget for the next fiscal year, July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 which was presented to the full Board and approved in May 2020.  The budget will be presented to the general CLN membership at the Annual Meeting on June 23, 2020.

Overall, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, CLN has remained financially sound with positive cash flow to meet ongoing expenses to operate the CLN office and meet program plan needs.  Required financial documents (Federal 990 report) was placed on extension, were prepared and submitted on behalf of CLN by Seward & Monde, Certified Public Accountants, December 19, 2019 to meet federal filing requirements. 

Moreover, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CLN in March 2020 applied for and received grant funding from the two federal Small Business Administration opportunities including:

• The Disaster Relief Fund, and
• The Payroll Protection Program 

Respectfully submitted,
Sheila

​Sheila B. Solernou, MSN, RN
Treasurer & Chair of the Finance Committee

Accomplishments Realized by the Connecticut League for Nursing, Inc. in 2019-2020:
The Connecticut League for Nursing (CLN) is engaged in many activities and initiatives that took place in Connecticut and throughout the nation over the past year.  Due to a strong commitment by the CLN Board of Directors, Council of Deans & Directors, Health Simulation Network of Connecticut (HSNCT), and Program Committee, CLN was able to coordinate and delivers the following activities & services:

• CLN’s 39th Annual RN Student Day- Acts as a platform for students to engage in best practices for transitioning to the workforce- how to identify the practice setting that is the right fit, learn from previous graduates how to successfully make the “jump” to employment, and provides an opportunity to engage with over 40 regional organizations seeking to hire RNs and academic institutions offering graduate programs highlighting graduate nursing education options.

• Educated nurses in Connecticut and across the nation to assume the role of Clinical Faculty.  CLN’s 100% Online Clinical Faculty Courseis a faculty-led, six module 3-week course aimed to:
  • Increase the “clinical capacity” of our nursing schools and programs to support the expanding needs of student enrollments; as well as, act as a pipeline to develop full-time nursing faculty within their educational organizations;
  • Serve as a programmatic intervention required by academic accrediting agencies for the onboarding and orientation of new Clinical Faculty; and
  • Provide best-practice clinical faculty curriculum in the areas of:  How to effectively select student learning experiences & build positive relationships with clinical agency partners, use and impact of Pre- and Post- Conferences and debriefing on student learning, formative and summative evaluation to document student competencies and program outcomes, and legal and ethical considerations that arise in the clinical environment.

• Supported nurses in Connecticut and across the nation to re-enter the profession of nursing and transition back into practice via their participating in CLN’s 100% Online RN Refresher Course.  This 17-week faculty-led Course incorporates two virtual hospital experiences thereby eliminating the on-the-ground clinical module.  CLN has secured the “endorsements” from the Boards of Nursing in California, Connecticut, Ohio and Rhode Island to engage their nurses seeking to return to work.

• Coordinated the activities of The Healthcare Simulation Network of CT (HSNCT)- a statewide group of simulation educators and staff from the academic and practice settings who support the growth and development of evidenced based simulation education within the state of Connecticut. As a Network, they work together to promote Best Practice and to standardize the use of simulation pedagogy and strive to be the front runners in the theory and practice of healthcare education via simulation. The HSNCT meets quarterly to discuss topics related to:
  • Simulation pedagogy, training of new equipment, networking with one another to help expand the use of simulation, and
  • Promote the growing educational modality of technology in nursing & healthcare education

• Convened Connecticut’s academic nursing leaders from all schools & programs of nursing in Connecticut (PhD to LPN) on a monthly basis via the Council of Deans & Directors to address the issues facing nursing education including:
  • Curriculum transformation, accreditation, faculty development, student clinical placements, integration of evidence-based practice, Inter-professional education, and simulated learning, and
  • In early March 2020, came together on a weekly basis to proactively address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on schools and programs of nursing, transformed student clinical
  • experiences for pre and post-licensure students with the engagement of virtual simulation modalities to support on-time graduation, and explored partnership opportunities with practice settings and identified roles that nursing faculty could play to assist practices setting with transition to practice for nurse graduates.
  • Six workgroups were created and guidance, recommendations and frequent updates were shared with the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing, the CT Workforce Council and the Governor’s office.

• Hosts the interactive online Guide to Nursing Education at www.CTNursingGuide.com. The Portal is a “one stop shop” to support:
  • Prospective nursing students to explore the various education programs offered by CT nursing schools and programs- educational options are categorized by degree- LPN, ADN, BSN, Masters and Doctoral;
  • Practicing nurses and healthcare employers as a resource for professional development for their nursing staff for continued graduate and specialty education;
  • Workforce Development Boards to educate local residents interested in learning about the different roles & careers in nursing including available statewide services & resources; and
  • Individuals seeking a Mentor who would engage in discussing the nuances of the pre-licensure nursing education pathways and help guide the interested student in identifying which was the best nursing option that met their interests and ultimate employment goals.

• Continued to implement CLN Background Check & Drug Screening Services for our 9th year to support nursing and allied health students to enter clinical experiences.  Offer services to schools/practice settings to help ease the burden of Clinical Placement paperwork criteria including background checks & drug screens.
  • CLN partners with Employers Reference Source, Inc. (ERS) to provide these screenings and currently works with: Capital Community College, Central CT State University, Housatonic Community College, Gateway Community College, Goodwin College, Manchester Community College, Middlesex Community College, Naugatuck Valley Community College, Northwestern CT Community College, Quinebaug Valley Community College, Southern CT State University, the University of Bridgeport, and Western CT State University.

Healthcare Simulation Network of Connecticut (HSNCT)
The Healthcare Simulation Network of Connecticut (HSNCT) is a group of healthcare simulation administrators, educators, and staff dedicated to providing resources, professional development, and networking opportunities in the field of healthcare simulation throughout the State of Connecticut. The mission of the network is to enhance the use of simulation and fully integrate it into academic curricula and assessment of healthcare competencies.

The HSNCT began in 2013 and meetings are hosted quarterly at various healthcare/academic locations across Connecticut.  The network continues to grow and provides opportunities for members to collaborate, share knowledge of simulation design, development, implementation, and evaluation strategies, and encourage continued innovation in the way we educate our future healthcare professionals.

In response to member needs during the 2019-2020 academic year, the HSNCT addressed the following topics through presentations and round table discussion: guiding simulation programs in developing a mission and vision statement and a policy manual following the Society for Simulation in Healthcare’s Accreditation Standards 2016; Oxford Medical Simulation Virtual Reality Presentation; developing an escape room. Participation and attendance were comprised of healthcare educators with various levels of expertise in simulation. The plan for the last meeting of the academic year was a four-hour workshop presented by Avkin on simulated participants (patient actors). However, this was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is our plan to reschedule this presentation in the 2020-21 academic year.

To celebrate Healthcare Simulation Week 2019 sponsored by the Society for Simulation in Health, HSNCT created a CPR simulation and a Safety in the Home simulation. These were dispersed to the membership for use in their institutions to celebrate the week. The simulations could be modified as to the needs of each institution. Members were asked to share how their institution celebrated Healthcare Simulation Week 2019 at the September meeting.

The HSNCT initiatives for 2020-2021 will be guided by member needs and feedback gathered from our members and, will focus on building simulation best practices and promoting sustainability for simulation programs.
Membership in the network is open to those healthcare professionals involved in simulation teaching and learning within academia, practice and other organizations committed to excellence in Simulation. 

Respectfully submitted,

Co-Chairs:
Rose DeSiena, M.Ed., RN, CHSE, Simulation Coordinator, Southern Connecticut State University
Joan K. Graham, DNP, RN, CNE, CHSE, Professor of Nursing, Three Rivers Community College

Secretary:
Darlene Rogers, BSN, RN, Quinnipiac University

The Program Committee and the ANCC Accredited Provider Unit has supported the following initiatives on behalf of selected populations within the nursing community over the past fiscal year, some with CLN ANCC accredited contact hours and others without.
Accreditation

• Submitted the application for renewal of our Approved Provider Status to CNA on October 15th, 2019 and were approved for another three years from January 2020 to January 2023.

• Submitted the required annual report of all our programs on February 15, 2020. It was accepted with no need to provide additional evidence and received positive feedback in regard to the following: quality of the report; good schedule of activities that continue to meet the needs of our target audience; great registrations – 200 participants; excellent QI examples; great assessment of the provider unit.

39th Annual RN Student Day (No contact hours awarded)
CLN celebrated 39 years of its sponsorship of the all-day Annual RN Student Day on November 6, 2019 at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, CT.  This program is a service to students and does not offer contact hours.  The theme for this event was “Transforming Your Dreams to Reality – Getting, Keeping, and Loving the Job” with Judith Herrman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, as keynote speaker.  Over 850 students and faculty, and 42 exhibitors were in attendance.  During the day students interacted with representatives of multiple employing agencies and other vendors.  Peer Recognition Awards are presented to one student from each of the nursing programs in the state.  This award, established by CLN, recognizes one outstanding senior nursing student from each member school or program.  New this year, a free 2-hour Suicide Prevention workshop was presented for faculty attendees and other CLN members during Student Day.  Contact hours were presented by the presenter Robert Havens addressing the QPR Strategy of suicide prevention (Question, Persuade, Refer – three simple steps that gatekeepers can learn to help save a life from suicide).

We extend our grateful thanks to the Sponsors of the 2019 RN Student Day: Charter Oak State College, Employers Reference Source, Inc., Fairfield University Egan School, Quinnipiac University School of Nursing, Sacred Heart University College of Nursing, Sacred Heart University Online Nursing Programs, Southern CT State University, Southern New Hampshire University, SUNY Delhi, University of Bridgeport School of Nursing, and UCONN School of Nursing.

On-the-Ground Workshops (ANCC contact hours for continuing education)
The program committee and the CLN ANCC Accredited Provider Unit offer workshops annually to address the high priority needs of the nursing educator community in the state as identified in a formal needs assessment.   Two programs were conducted in this fiscal year.

The first of these workshops titled “Innovations in Nursing Education” was offered on November 7, 2019 at Naugatuck Valley Community College for 4.0 contact hours, with 32 participants in attendance.
The workshop facilitators and topics included:

• Judy Herrman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, Professor Emerita/Adjunct Professor, University of Delaware  Engaging Millennials and Multi-generations in Active Learning; and How Best to Apply these Strategies in the Classroom & Lessons Learned; Innovation in Education for all Settings
• Tekisha Everette, PhD, Executive Director, Health Equity Solutions     Positioning Education with the LENS of Cultural Humility
• Sheila Molony, PhD, RN, APRN, FGSA, FAAN, Quinnipiac University School of Nursing    Gaming as a Creative Teaching Strategies in Academe
• Melissa Dibble, MSN, RN-BC, CAPA, Clinical Education Specialist, CT Children’s Medical Center  Experiential Creative Teaching Strategies in Practice

The participant responses were overwhelmingly positive for the speakers, regarding both their personal learning outcomes and positive reports of their intent to apply at least one of their new insights gained in the workshop in their educational practice.

As an alternate way of addressing the learning needs of its membership, CLN was a sponsor of the Gustin Conference presented by The Hospital for Special Care held on October 21, 2019 at Central Connecticut State University.  Karen Drenkard, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Senior Vice President, Chief Clinical and Nursing Officer at Get Well Network, Bethesda, MD was the Keynote speaker addressing the topic “Patient and Family Engagement”.  CLN provided 10 free registrations to CLN members with contact hours provided by The Hospital for Special Care.

A 3-hour workshop titled “Innovative Online Teaching Strategies” with Susan Deane, PhD, RN, CNE, was planned for the spring but was cancelled due to the Covid-19 restrictions.  It will be scheduled at a later date when possible.

CLN Continuing Education Online Courses (ANCC contact hours for continuing education)
The all-virtual, four-module 17-week “RN Refresher Course” was offered 6 times this past fiscal year by the CLN ANCC Approved Provider unit and awards (90) Contact Hours for the successful completion of the four modules. The enrollment in module one over this period was 73, a significant increase from any previous year.  The students come from a variety of states including California, Connecticut, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. They learned of the course through their respective state boards, the local CLN affiliate, word-of-mouth or in an online search. The course continues to be highly rated by the participants and will continue to be offered at least four times a year.  Currently the course faculty are engaged in a continuing effort to review and update the content and format of the course.

RN Re-Entry Boot Camp (NEW Course Offered in May 2020)
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and need to support nurses to re-enter the practice setting, a NEW RN Re-Entry Course was designed and implemented.  This “8-Week RN Re-Entry Boot Camp” is based off of our
successful Flagship 17-Week RN Refresher Course and upon completion by the nurse will award (70) Contact Hours.

This faculty led course will transition fully prepared nurses into the hospital setting in a medical/surgical capacity as the COVID-19 pandemic wains to backfill the staffing crisis due to "nurse fatigue" that is now occurring within our practice settings as well as will be evident over the years to come.
The 100% online Boot Camp supports licensed nurses with previous Acute Care, Long-Term Care, or Community/Home Care experience who have been out of the nursing workforce for LESS than 10 years and have an ACTIVE RN license to re-enter the workforce.

The 3-week “Clinical Faculty Course” was first launched for nurse educators in March 2014 and was offered 3 times this past fiscal year by the CLN ANCC Provider Unit.  Thirty (30) Contact Hours are awarded to the participant based on successful completion of the Course.  There were 45 participants and the Students came from a variety of states including Connecticut, Indiana, Ohio and Massachusetts. They learned of the course through our CT Schools of Nursing, CLN affiliates, word-of-mouth, or an online search. The evaluations continue to be outstanding and nursing faculty have written:

“Wonderful course for clinical instructors to learn and apply techniques to current clinical practice. At first, I was leery of its benefits to me as a practicing clinical instructor with a Master's in Nursing education. I have been pleasantly surprised and grateful for the opportunity to participate in this rich learning environment.”
“This was a very informative course for the novice clinical faculty. Having no experience instructing in the clinical setting, I found the text and supplemental documents valuable in my learning. I now have an increased level of confidence to perform effectively in my future role. I would recommend the course to all graduating MSN students planning on becoming clinical instructors.”

The course will continue to be offered at least 3 - 4 times per year or more frequently as needed.  A follow-up study of the participants and their employers was planned for the spring but was postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Credit Course Offered in Partnership with Charter Oak State College
The online 3-credit “LPN to RN Articulation Bridge Course” that is part of the statewide articulation program, was offered collaboratively by CLN and Charter Oak State College once this year in Spring 2020 with 55 students enrolled from the associate degree programs in the state. The enrollment in the Summer 2020 “fast track” session which started in late May 2020 has 13 students.  These LPN students will be the first cohort to enter the course with the revised content of the Concept-Based Curriculum used by some of the participating schools.[JM1] 

We extend our sincere appreciation to all the members of the Program Committee for their dedicated support of CLN’s programming initiatives.  Their efforts have been a key ingredient in the success of the programming this year, and the planning of initiatives for the years ahead. 

Respectfully submitted,
Program Committee Co-Chairs
Jane E. Murdock, EdD, MSN           Kathy Murphy, EdD, MSN, RN, CHSE

​Program Committee Members:  Beth Boyd, Carol DeGennaro, Ann-Marie Evans, Kim Foito, Mary Joan Forstbauer, Miosotis Garcia, Ginger Goddu, Marlene Hageman, Linda Kapinos, Peggy Mallick, Susan McGinnis, Jane Murdock, Kathy Murphy, Katie Olive, Marcia Proto, Deb Tetreault, Jeanne Thomas, Alicia Zupan, Jillian Zupan.