All programs need to be evaluated, and OCNE is no exception. Having undertaken major changes in both curriculum and clinical education it is imperative to evaluate the impacts these changes have on students, faculty, and institutional level deliver of Nursing Education in Oregon.

Through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation we have been fortunate to initiate a comprehensive evaluation, gathering data on the processes of OCNE development and baseline data on outcomes of pre-OCNE programs, conducting annual surveys of current students and faculty to identify issues in OCNE implementation, and conducting campus site visits to observe implementation. The first class of students completes the Associate of Applied Science in spring 2008 and the Baccalaureate degree in spring 2009. For this and subsequent classes we will collect data to (a) evaluate the outcomes of OCNE, specifically the extent to which OCNE has increased the supply and distribution of baccalaureate-prepared RNs in Oregon, improved the quality of prelicensure education, and improved the utilization of faculty through reducing workload and increasing satisfaction; (b) determine what components of the OCNE model are critical to achieving these outcomes, including both the planning processes used in the development of the OCNE and the ways in which the OCNE model is implemented; and (c) disseminate this information to other states and regions considering replication of the OCNE model.

Through the U.S. Department of Education FIPSE we will be extending our evaluation efforts in 2009-2010 to focus specifically on clinical education fidelity. The OCNE clinical education model was specifically designed to help nursing students gain the competencies needed for today’s complex practice; to better utilize faculty, staff nurse and student time in the curriculum while achieving enhanced outcomes; and to increase capacity in clinical education sites. This study provides evaluation that will help us to expand the model from the seven current projects in three community colleges and Oregon Health & Science University to all 13 institution participants in the consortium, and over 100 clinical partners. The findings will also be shared with other schools around the United States.