FACTORS AFFECTING WORK AND LIFE OF NURSING FACULTY ENGAGED IN OUTREACH/OFF-CAMPUS BACCALAUREATE AND HIGHER DEGREE EDUCATION: FOCUS ON RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
Contributors: State University of New York at Albany.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 259
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Higher.; Education, Adult and Continuing.
Description: Outreach/off-campus baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs are nontraditional models which provide educational opportunities for general and specialized preparation of nurses. The purpose of this study was to investigate these programs as they exist in New York State and factors which affect the life and work of faculty who teach in these programs.

Both adult education and adult learning theory provided the bases for the study. The programs of interest were New York State outreach/off-campus nursing programs existing in the Spring of 1993. A sample was drawn of their faculty with a second sample drawn of faculty participants' spouses/significant others. An exploratory design was used to address research questions relating to the programs, faculty, and work environment.

The study found that there were fifteen outreach/off-campus baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs on 44 sites geographically dispersed throughout the state. Courses delivered at each site ranged from one to a maximum of eleven per semester. Per academic year these programs impact an average of 1700 students and generate a minimum of over half a million dollars in revenue. Program personnel identified that for most students outreach was the only means to access professional and advanced nursing education.

Faculty had a median age of 48 years, averaged 14 years teaching experience, and 5 years of outreach teaching. Over 40% of the faculty were doctorally prepared and 37% were enrolled in a degree granting program. Faculty most liked working with the adult students as learner/participants in these outreach programs, and were committed to providing this alternative model of education for them.

Many factors affected faculty work satisfaction and quality of life. Significant predictor for the perception of work satisfaction was perception of evaluation. Significant predictor for perception of quality of life was faculty opportunity for interaction with others on campus. Travel, support services, time involvement, scheduling, provision of incentives, and opportunity for collegial interaction were identified as problem areas. Spouses/significant others provided evidence of a spillover effect between work and life away from work. The results of this investigation have implications for both policy issues in nursing program administration and further research relating to outreach programs.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-09, Section: B, page: 3824.

Thesis (PH.D.)--STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT ALBANY, 1994.

School code: 0668.