Duke Energy and UC Blue Ash UNITE to Support Nursing Education

Duke Energy is providing the UC Blue Ash College Nursing Department with a $7,600 grant that will help transform the way students learn.

The grant is part of the UNITE (Utilizing Nursing and Technology in Education) Project developed by the college. Faculty in the nursing department will collaborate with the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing for training on the use of iOS apps that allow professors to build courses and provide instruction to students on the Apple platform.

Carla Henderson, chair of the UC Blue Ash Nursing Department, says iOS apps such as Nursing Central are making a real impact in nursing education. “They are changing the way we teach students in the classroom, our simulation labs and clinical rotations by providing additional tools that help support student success.”

Henderson says all nursing students at UC Blue Ash will eventually be required to have an iPad mini. She adds that this initiative is part of the overall preparation for students as health care continues to be more technologically advanced. “When you go into a hospital everything is electronic, from the health records to medication administration. Bringing new technological tools like iPad and new learning applications into the classroom will really help our students as they prepare to enter the nursing profession.”

For Duke Energy, the grant is an opportunity to support education, a valued community partner, and future growth. “We realize that a strong, highly skilled workforce is very attractive for companies that might be considering a move to Greater Cincinnati, so this grant supports the next generation of health-care providers as well as our economic development initiatives,” said Warren Walker, with Community and Government Relations for Duke Energy.

Incorporating new technology into the nursing program will also help UC Blue Ash better align with the UC College of Nursing on UC's Uptown Campus, which is using iPads and iOS apps in its undergraduate and Doctor of Nursing courses. Late last year the College of Nursing was named an Apple Distinguished Program for its innovative uses of technology in nurse education.

Nursing students at UC Blue Ash are prepared for a career as a registered nurse (RN). Some graduates go directly into the workforce, while others transition to the UC campus in Clifton to pursue their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

UC Blue Ash College is a regional college within the University of Cincinnati. It offers one of the best values in higher education with access to a nationally recognized UC education in nearly 50 degrees and certificates, as well as tuition that is about half of most colleges and universities. The college is located on a scenic 135-acre wooded campus in the heart of Blue Ash, Ohio. To learn more, call 513-745-5600, visit us online at www.ucblueash.edu, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.