Boise State University, Nursing Department

2. St. Luke’s Wood RiverMedical Center Boise State University, Nursing Department Gooding County Memorial Hospital Idaho Elk’s Rehabilitation Hospital St. Luke’s Magic Valley Regional Medical Center St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center Syringa General Hospital McCall Memorial Hospital Weiser Memorial Hospital Elmore Medical Center

3. Rural Connection is a consortium of nursing leaders who are innovators for patient care.  Through collaboration and a shared vision, Rural Connection provides a collegial environment for rural, urban, and academic partners. Education, performance improvement, research, sharing of resources, and ongoing communication and networking are a part of a Rural Connection tradition that has been nurtured since 1990.  Rural Connection membership is rural, urban, and academic.  Its membership includes hospitals throughout Idaho and also includes Boise State University, Department of Nursing. Rural Connection began in 1990 through a "Strengthening Hospital Nursing" grant funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation / Pew Charitable Trust.  The grant ended in 1995 and Rural Connection continues to evolve and participate in projects that improve health care practices.

4. A 501(c)3 non-profit organizationcomposed of rural, urban, and academic nursing leaders A voice for nursing leaders and the rural nursing experience. A networking forum for nursing leaders in Idaho. A collection of resources and services for the rural and tertiary nurse. A driver of initiatives that directly impact health care practices and nursing. Rural Connection

5. VISION MISSION VALUES We exist to… Our decision-making guide… By 2010, Rural Connection will be nationally recognized nurse leaders who create innovative processes that improve patient care. Attainable Collaborative Sustainable Value to Membership Respect for Diversity and Uniqueness Provide a collegial environment for creative solutions to patient care for rural, urban, and academic partners. Mission* Vision* Values Rural * Urban * Academic

6. Board of Directors Anne Erickson CNO, St. Luke’s Magic Valley Regional Medical Center Steve Frei CNO, Syringa General Hospital Lisa Looney Director of Nursing, Weiser Memorial Hospital Lorraine Reinhardt, President CNO, Gooding County Memorial Hospital Deborah Mills CNO, Elmore Medical Center Judy Taylor Director of Nursing, Idaho Elk’s Rehabilitation Hospital Jeanette Ullery, Standing Guest Director of Education, St. Luke's Regional Medical Center Buffie Main, Executive Director Rural Connection Pam Springer , President Nursing Department Chair, Boise State University, College of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing Sharon Kensinger, President-Elect CNO, St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center Linda Klind, Secretary Treasurer VP Patient Care & Nursing, McCall Memorial Hospital Joanne Clavelle VP Patient Care Services and CNO, St. Luke's Regional Medical Center Noreen Davis Senior VP Nursing and Patient Care Services, St. Luke's Health System

7. Why “Rural” Connection….. • Of the 44 counties in Idaho, 35 are considered to be rural. Of the 44 counties… • 2 counties have between 0-2 RNs for every 1,000 people • 14 counties have 3-5 RNs for every 1,000 people • 22 counties have 6-9 RNs for every 1,000 people • 6 counties have at least 10 RNs for every 1,000 people SOURCE: (Idaho Rural Counties) Idaho State Office of Rural Health (RNs Employed in Idaho Counties) Idaho Nursing Workforce Center

8. Telling the story: the dance of collaboration and our commitment to finding solutions where rural, urban, and academic partners meet…….

9. Characteristics of Rural & Urban Nursing SOURCE: Bushy, Angeline (2000). Orientation to Nursing in the Rural Community. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

10. Telling the story: the dance of collaboration and our commitment to finding solutions where rural, urban, and academic partners meet……. Boise State University, Nursing Department

11. Rural Connection Theoretical Framework Person:The person refers to those who are served by our actions. This may include other Rural Connection Board Members, faculty, and/or staff directly and patients and/or students indirectly and may represent individuals, groups, communities, or organizations. Environment: The environment is the intersection of urban, rural, and academia in Southern Idaho and the surrounding region. We understand and respect that the cultures of these areas differ; and we utilize those differences to support change. We target interventions and processes that positively impact all three areas. Health: Health refers to the climate of the organization of Rural Connection as well as the work climate in the facilities we represent. The projects we undertake positively impact the health of our organization(s), patients, students, and communities we represent. Nursing Leadership: Nursing leaders design processes and systems that allow organizations to prosper by providing a collegial environment for creative solutions to patient care. Leaders demonstrate accountability and integrity in actions.

12. Professional Development Leadership Development Clinical Development Mentoring Leaders  Preceptor Program   Nurse Residency Program  Rural Competency

13. Leadership Development Preceptor Program Providing a foundation and network for supporting the development of nurse preceptors by improving their skills in teaching, leadership, mentorship and communication, Rural Connection is administering a comprehensive, sustainable preceptor program for rural and tertiary care centers alike. Rooted in the rural nursing experience, the program has a unique appreciation for rural nurse preceptors and the diverse circumstances under which they precept.

14. Topics:Teaching & Learning Styles ~ Competency ~ Critical Thinking & Clinical Judgment ~ Communication & Conflict Management ~ Delegation ~ Team Building December 2007 Workshop St. Luke’s Wood River32 Participants from 6 Hospitals Spring 2007 Workshop Rollout (Two workshops in Boise, One in Gooding) 81 Participants from 8 Hospitals

15. Clinical Development Nurse Residency Program • The Graduate Nurse Residency Program is designed to ease the transitional challenges of moving from nursing student to clinical nurse professional. • Opportunity to socialize with fellow new graduate nurses • 4 hour monthly sessions for 1 year • Peer support and reflective practice • Expert subject matter presenters • Clinical Coach to ask questions • 2007 148 Participants from 5 Hospitals

16. Clinical Development Rural Competency Rural hospitals face unique challenges in the way of competency development and validation. From the role of the Rural Nurse Generalist necessitating that nurses be experts in all services of the hospital, to a low-volume experience of certain high-risk skills, and a lack of resources for a new nurse all contribute to the challenges facing developing and validating competency in a rural facility. Rural Connection is building a rural competency tool that includes checklists specifically geared to a rural facility as well as a learning module for the validation of competency. The checklists include space for a facility to include resources & policy information, critical thinking scenarios, and a validation tool.

17. Leadership Development Mentoring Leaders Promoting the professional development of nursing personnel and the practice of nursing, Rural Connection strives to develop a model for mentoring new nursing leaders. In 2007, Rural Connection hosted a nursing leadership conference with Tim Porter-O’Grady with over 200 nurses in attendance. “Leadership is essentially a work in progress— a never-ending journey with facets and elements that add up to a broad and complex mosaic” -Tim Porter O’Grady

18. leadership voice resources Legislative Advocacy: Acting as a voice for nurse leaders and the rural nurse experience, Rural Connection remains abreast of current legislation that will affect nursing in Idaho and provides education and recommendations and policy makers regarding Idaho nursing issues. Rural Connection strongly advocates for the development and support of Idaho nursing faculty. Rural Connection Library: In addition to the expertise that each Member Organization brings to Rural Connection, the organization’s intellectual capital is reinforced through a shared Library, a repository of resources on topics ranging from Nursing Excellence (ANCC Magnet), Rural Nursing, Orientation, Precepting, and Competency Development. State & National Recognition:  Through collaboration and a shared vision, Rural Connection provides a collegial environment for rural, urban, and academic partners. This environment has quickly been identified both regionally and nationally as a synergistic organization that is creating innovative and unique projects.

19. Where can you find out more? www.ruralconnection.org