NURSES MADE IN PR An Adult Modality tailored for Hispanics living and returning to work in the Continental USA
General description of the project
Founded in 1969, in San Juan, PR, EDP University has grown to have 5 more campuses in San Sebastian (1978), Humacao, Manati (2013), Villalba (2017) and more recently Caguas (2023) where we serve Hispanics from all over the United States who visit Puerto Rico for the first time to complete their Associate Degree in Nursing rotations in an adult modality that is almost half online and half in Puerto Rico.
The MAGAE modality (Modalidad de Adultos del Grado Asociado en Enfermeria) started in 2008 and has become our signature program combining Health and Technology to intentionally serve the underserved population of Hispanics (65% Cubans averaging 39 years of age) but also our innovative contribution to economic development in the communities where our campuses operate through housing, food and other services that visiting students require during their three month long stays in Puerto Rico.
Technologies
The tailored made program provides legal residents of the continental USA, access to online learning while preparing their three month stays in Puerto Rico. Services are also remote while they make the best use of financial aid and technologies to finish their associate degree in Nursing.
Explain project results
Hispanic immigrants not only have to deal with new technologies, but also with a new language. Nursing programs and clinical experiences in Puerto Rico expose them to the bilingual medical records they will see as they return to work in the continental USA and pass their board exams.
Why it should be considered best practice?
Hispanic Institutions of higher education should encourage students to foster bilingual opportunities while learning in their native language, especially if they intend to return and work in the continental USA. Puerto Rican HSI’s can serve that purpose with short term or long term stays to complete programs that are also US accredited.
Employers should learn to build welcoming communities around this diversified workforce, as they are in high demand and the social and economic mobility is possible and real. If you build it, they will come!!
Highlights of your proposed presentation
Not only San Juan, but also Humacao, Manati, Villalba, San Sebastian and Caguas are now academic destinations that brought to Puerto Rico 1,315 students last year alone (2022-2023) and almost 900 completed their associate degrees in this format or modality where half of the program is offered online and the practical component is intensive, but effective, especially to former medicine doctors prepared in Cuba and Dominican Republic who transition to registered nurses(RN) in one year.
This professionally accredited Nursing program has attracted not only a growing enrollment over the years, but also Health systems around the USA, that are willing to invest in these professionals providing a support system for their next step: NCLEX board exams and steady work and gainful employment.
One such system in the Lehigh Valley Health System in PA, that partnered with EDP University, targeting a diversified workforce, by listening to their needs and providing a tailored made support system. Success stories will be shared by their head recruiter in Puerto Rico, Christine Rivera RN.
The Evaluation Committee will evaluate submitted proposals based on the following criteria. Each area will be rated on a scale from 1 to 7 (1= non-satisfactory; 7 =outstanding), for a maximum of 63 points.