The Effect of a Virtual Community on Work-life, Recruitment and Retention among Nursing Faculty
Principal Investigator: Jean Giddens, Ph.D., RN
Program Evaluator: Linnea L. Carlson-Sabelli, Ph.D., Rush University, College of Nursing
This project will evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative teaching application known as The Neighborhood (NBH), is a Web-based virtual community featuring the stories of fictional characters who live within households in the “neighborhood” and are served by various community agencies. Their stories unfold over three semesters and are recorded on web pages that contain text, video vignettes and medical records, which form the basis for student instruction by faculty. Dr. Linnea L. Carlson-Sabelli and her team from Rush University will evaluate the impact of NBH on faculty work-life, faculty recruitment and retention, and student graduation rates. Data collection will include surveys of students and faculty, program records, interviews and focus groups; comparisons of outcomes will be made between seven intervention schools and seven control sites. Items from the NPO-provided breadth of education measure will be included in student surveys.
