Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/759111
43 Executive Briefing In a very real way, the credit hour has emerged as a unit of learning. However, there is little evidence that contact hours in a classroom or online equate to learning. Time, content and student ability are fixed in a credit hour model. Content X is presented and knowledge and skills related to it are evaluated over two weeks, whether the student could have mastered the content by the middle of the first week or would need an additional week to do so. So while the challenges of the credit model have long been acknowledged, alternatives have remained elusive. The Revolutionary Education Model Capella University has been a leader in innovative competency- based education. Capella's continuing effort to be the most direct path between education and career success led to its pioneering efforts in direct assessment degree programs. Capella University refers to its direct assessment learning format as FlexPath. Direct assessment severs learning from the constraints of the credit hour allocation and — as the Capella name implies — allows for flexible learning where students decide when they are ready to demonstrate a particular competency. If students have achieved expertise in an area through their professional practice or continuing education, then they can proceed to demonstrate that competency in a highly rigorous assessment that reflects the real world challenges of their profession. For areas in which students have little prior learning, they access resources and devote the necessary individualized time to prepare to demonstrate a competency. All of this is done with significant and substantive engagement with faculty and academic support team members. The result — a highly personalized learning experience that can mean less time to degree completion and cost savings due to per session pricing. The School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Capella University launched its RN-to-BSN completion program in the FlexPath model in early 2016. RNs choosing Capella for their baccalaureate education now have a choice between two online learning formats: its credit-based GuidedPath option and FlexPath. The right option depends on a host of factors including motivations, amount of professional experiences and preferred ways of learning. Both options lead to the same degree and rely on the students' ability to demonstrate the same competencies and outcomes. FlexPath is a revolutionary approach to nursing education. If a nurse has extensive experience in quality improvement, he or she can efficiently demonstrate competency in that area and focus time on learning new areas such as informatics. That nurse can choose from a variety of resources to learn informatics that meet his or her specific needs. In addition to the time and cost savings, there is great potential for an enhanced learning experience as research in adult learning science suggests that control and self direction in the learning process is important. FlexPath offers nurses the added ability to manage their personal and professional lives in a way that enables accomplishment of goals related to multiple competing priorities. When they get to decide when things are due and when to focus on school, the ability to successfully navigate such immutable responsibilities like participation in a Joint Commission survey, completion of staffing schedules and unexpected work days is greatly enhanced. Plus, a week that includes a child's soccer game, piano recital and college application deadline can be managed while maintaining successful academic progression. On the Cutting Edge of Healthcare While the evidence that supports the return on investment of baccalaureate education for an organization's nurses is strong, it is still a costly expenditure for hospitals and other healthcare organizations. The RN-to-BSN FlexPath option not only provides employers with an affordable option to boost patient and systems outcomes, it lowers the opportunity costs to employees, which could translate into both higher productivity and job satisfaction. The healthcare market is showing great interest in the FlexPath model as administrators realize such innovation supports their needs that are challenging to meet. The FlexPath model resonates with nurses and nursing leaders. It is not uncommon to hear, "This just makes sense — why haven't we done this before?" Thus far, feedback from students and faculty has been extremely positive. The option is an exciting step in the continued evolution of nursing education. The model solves some long standing and seemingly recalcitrant challenges. FlexPath RN-to-BSN is just the latest example of Capella's commitment to be the most direct path between education and career success, which in this case translates into the safety and quality of our nation's healthcare. To find out more about how Capella partners with healthcare employers, visit nursingtrack8020.com n "FlexPath offers nurses the added ability to manage their personal and professional lives in a way that enables accomplishment of goals related to multiple competing priorities. " Capella is an accredited online university dedicated to providing an exceptional, professionally-aligned education. Health care employers, including hundreds of hospitals, clinics, care centers, and national nursing associations partner with Capella to develop critical talent. Nursing Track 80/20, a unique program created by Capella, can provide immediate applicability to your nurse development goals.