Baptist nurses participate in new AKEEP program for rapid entry into RN-BSN program

Baptist Health Sciences University launched the first cohort of 12 nurses in the Advancing Knowledge to Enhance Evidence-based Practice program led by Dr. Ramona Patterson, assistant professor of Nursing.

AKEEP is a new project at Baptist  that targets rapid entry of practicing registered nurses into a registered nurse to Bachelors of Science in Nursing program, in response to the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation for an 80 percent BSN workforce by 2020.

This pilot project provides an opportunity for RNs to participate in learning at the BSN level and to acquire a basic understanding of nursing research and evidence-based practice. Team learning will target evidence-based nursing practice needs through quality improvement projects at partner hospitals.

The current participants and project partners are Baptist Health Sciences University, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville and Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women.

The target audience for the program is Associate Degree and Diploma RNs from any of the three partner hospitals.

The course schedule includes six all-day workshops with one per month rotated  among the three Baptist hospitals. RN participants will be given release time from work to attend the workshops.

Benefits to Participants
•Enhanced ability to advance patient safety and evidence-based nursing practice
•Professional development and certificate of completion
•Taking the first step in advancing education toward a BSN degree
•3 hours college credit for nursing research (BSN level)
•Food, beverage, books, and supplies will be provided for workshop participants

Benefits to the Organization
•Builds the BSN educational capacity of Baptist workforce nurses toward IOM goals
•Strengthens evidence-based nursing practice for Baptist units and hospitals
•Quality improvement needs targeted through participant evidence-based projects