A Better Pathway to Nursing Excellence
Utah’s rapidly growing population is changing the face of our state for the better—and presenting many challenges. One is meeting the health care needs of the community. The University of Utah College of Nursing proposes a solution: transform the role of registered nurses and nurse practitioners in our state so they’re practicing to the highest extent of their education and experience, delivering health care that is patient-centered, accessible, and evidence-based.
Nursing is both a science and an art; nowhere is this more relevant than in the primary care setting. Faculty at the college embrace and promote the role of registered nurses on primary care teams. “Nursing’s expertise in wellness and disease management allows patients to receive more personalized and coordinated care,” says Sara Hart, PhD, RN, a clinical professor in the college. “Research has demonstrated that patient outcomes are improved when clinic teams include registered nurses who can provide many aspects of care, including annual wellness exams, patient education, and management of chronic conditions like diabetes.”
The Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention (NEPQR) Program focuses on educating today’s students to be tomorrow’s primary care nurses. The program requires participants to complete 150 hours in rural and primary care and provides scholarships for those interested in pursuing careers in those areas. Now in its sixth year, the HRSA-funded program also promotes RN-level nurses into primary care roles and extends much-needed resources into places where patients struggle to access primary care.
The program, which includes virtual education and interprofessional support, also provides real-world training for nurses already working around the state. They can learn about dementia care, opioid management, women’s health screenings, and other topics pertinent to patients in smaller Utah communities that may not have access to specialty care. In 2022, the college secured $9.7 million in funding for a variety of projects and initiatives:
- A nursing workforce program that hosted an inaugural summer camp for middle schoolers.
- The Family Caregiving Collaborative, which educates future health care workers to recognize the contributions of Utah's 336,000 unpaid family caregivers. The Collaborative tests new ways to support patient and family caregiver health and well-being, and partners with policymakers to improve the lives of caregivers and those in their care.
- A geriatric symposium and Life-Planning in Early Alzheimer's and Dementia (LEAD) Guide.
- Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners providing behavioral health services in rural Utah.
- A pathway program for high school students interested in careers as certified nurse assistants.
- BirthCare HealthCare certified nurse midwives providing OB/GYN care at South Main Clinic and increasing access to cervical ripening system-wide.
- The Community Engaged Learning partnership for high school students at Granite Technical Institute.
- Caring Connections, which provides culturally informed grief support services for Hispanic/Latinx, Pacific Islander, and New American Communities.
The college also meets a critical need by providing primary and behavioral health care to organizations like the Urban Indian Center, the Summit County Health Department, Four Corners Community Behavioral Health, the Uintah Basin Medical Center, and eight Utah Juvenile Justice and Youth Services facilities. These community engagement efforts give nurse practitioners and nurses from the college the chance to apply their expertise across Utah, delivering essential health care to patients, families, and communities while providing excellent learning opportunities for nursing students.
The health care workforce is at a critical pivot point, and we need more nurses to meet the needs of our communities, Hart says. This includes creating strong pathways for recruiting and supporting nursing students from all backgrounds. “We seek to engage with potential learners from the communities we serve who are aware and sensitive to the health care needs where they live,” says Valerie Flattes, PhD, APRN, MS, ANP-BC, associate professor in the college. “We welcome and value t in students, faculty, and staff.”
