Transformation and Excellence in an RN-to-BSN Program: A Ten-Year Journey

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Registered nurses (RNs) in a large Northern California health system, despite available options, had not pursued RN-to-BSN programs.
• The healthcare setting featured a strong union, high salaries, and low turnover, indicating a stable workforce.
• The practice partner's primary goal was to achieve transformational cultural change within the organization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a novel RN-to-BSN program utilizing a Unitary Caring Science (UCS) framework.
• To foster transformational cultural change within a large integrated health system.
• To enhance nurses' personal and professional development and practice ownership.

Main Methods:

• An academic practice partnership was established to co-create the curriculum.
• A mindfulness-based stress reduction course introduced students to UCS principles.
• A cohort model was employed to cultivate communitas, with a focus on the affective learning domain to nurture phronesis.

Main Results:

• The program developed new ontological competencies through a four-pillar value proposition: discover vision, find voice, tell stories, and own practice.
• Students reported significant positive changes in their personal and professional lives.
• Practice leaders observed transformative behaviors in graduates and cultural shifts within the organization.

Conclusions:

• The academic-practice partnership successfully met the objectives of both the academic institution and the healthcare organization.
• The UCS framework and program design facilitated significant personal, professional, and cultural transformation.
• The program demonstrated a successful model for enhancing nursing practice and organizational culture through advanced education.