Establishing the Graduate School of Nursing at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Military Medicine, Jun 2004

RADM Paye Glenn Abdellah, USPHS (Ret.), Founding Dean and Professor Emerita, Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 1993-2002.

The establishment of the Graduate School of Nursing (GSN) was a long-time dream that became a reality due to the visionary insight and commitment of Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii. The establishing legislation of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) directed the University to meet the unique medical readiness requirements of the Uniformed Services: the Army, Navy, Air Force and the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) through the provision of career-oriented health care providers who would ensure continuity and leadership for the Military Health System (MHS). The University was also mandated to establish, as appropriate, additional schools or institutes to meet the special needs of the MHS. In 1993, the Federal Nursing Chiefs identified the need for advanced practice nurses, and plans were initiated for a graduate school of nursing to be established within USUHS.

Previously, in 1989, Jay Sanford, M.D., President, USUHS, had contacted RADM Faye Glenn Abdellah, USPHS (Ret.), to undertake a comprehensive study with nursing leaders from the Uniformed Services to explore the requirement for establishing baccalaureate or master degree programs in nursing at USUHS. The findings of the study found that sufficient and excellentlyqualified Baccalaureate Programs in Nursing already existed; however, Master of Science in Nursing programs geared toward the unique requirements of the Uniformed Services were required. Following its review of those findings, the USUHS Board of Regents also recommended that a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program be established at USUHS.

In 1993, the Congress directed the initiation of a demonstration program at USUFIS for the preparation of an MSN Program to address the shortage of health care providers in the Uniformed Services and to prepare advanced practice nurses in two areas: family nurse practitioner and nurse anesthesia. The Federal Nursing Chiefs were appointed to serve as advisors to the USUHS GSN.

By February 26, 1996, the GSN had received official approval and was funded as a permanent program by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). Graduates earning the MSN Degree at the USUHS GSN are qualified to test for national certification in their specialties. Outcome assessments were excellent. For example, ten USUHS GSN Nurse Anesthesia graduates passed the certification examination on their first attempt during 2003; of those, seven received the perfect score of 600. The Nurse Practitioner Program graduates also passed their certification examinations with scores far above the national average.

During 2002 and 2003, the three accrediting entities of the GSN: the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC); the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); and, the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (COA) all granted reaccreditation for maximum terms, with commendation. In a letter to the USUHS President dated January 24, 2002, the Honorable William Winkenwerder Jr., M.D., Assistant secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, responded to the NENAC notice of accreditation: "I am particularly gratified by the following statement: This program provides an outstanding model for preparing advanced practice nurses for military service and care of patients in crisis and disaster situations. This program is on the cutting edge of cost effectively incorporating advanced technology into the curriculum and instruction process to produce a highly competent practitioner." The following was agreed upon at the NENAC meeting held on February 27, 2002: "The Commission approved the Master Degree Program for continuing accreditation and scheduled the next evaluation visit for the Fall of 2009." The NENAC final report concluded that "this program can serve as a model to advance nursing education, practice and scholarship as nursing moves into care of the global community." Similar statements of commendation were also received from the CCNE and the COA. In addition, the USUHS GSN was informed, during 1998, that it had been approved by Sigma Theta Tau to sponsor a Nursing Honor Society with the intent of becoming a Member Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. The GSN Honor Society was formally establ ished in 1999; and, a site visit by a member of Sigma Theta Tau was conducted in April of 2003. Following a positive recommendation, the GSN scheduled a Sigma Theta Tau Charter Initiation Ceremony for a new Chapter to be held in May of 2004.

In June of 2001, the Federal Nursing Chiefs identified a need for Perioperative Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS). A program was developed and approved by the USUHS Board of Regents. The first class of CNS students was enrolled by the GSN during 2003. During March of 2002, again with the support of the Federal Nursing Chiefs, the GSN began the process of developing a Doctoral Program in Nursing. The intent of this program is to provide qualified leaders in research, education, and clinical practice to serve in the MHS, USPHS, and other federal health systems. A current and major concern over patient safety warrants that nursing research be conducted to assess the linkage between nurse staffing, patient safety, and outcome assessments throughout the MHS; GSN doctorally-prepared nurses would greatly assist in meeting this requirement. The first class of doctoral students was enrolled by the GSN during 2003.