Developing a Model of Sustainability for BPG Implementation into undergraduate Nursing Curricula

A sustainability plan has traditionally been viewed narrowly as the act of decreasing dependence on one source of funding and shifting supports for program implementation to a new funding stream (Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2021). The sustainability of an academic Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) is a difficult and complex task but one worthy of intense planning and foresight. An effective sustainability plan manages its human, natural, financial capital to meet current needs while ensuring that adequate resources are available for future endeavours. Leadership is at the forefront of sustainability by providing equal opportunity for all individuals and groups to participate and influence decisions, adequate access to information, an atmosphere of respect and tolerance for viewpoints, political stability, the ability to maintain yet grow with the ever-changing demands of nursing education and the health care climate of today and tomorrow. Developing a sustainability plan for Best Practice Guideline (BPG) integration into undergraduate nursing education is, of course, part of the process involved in becoming a BPSO designate. But beyond the mere planning for sustainability, an overarching framework or model is required so that academic institutions can plan, from the outset, their BPSO journey for success. While sustainability of BPG implementation into long-term and acute care centers has been discussed in the literature, a clear and comprehensive model of sustainability of these guidelines had not been developed for the academic arena. Areas that I explored to identify the unique nature of sustainability of the BPSO in academia include a long-term perspective - focusing on anticipating and adapting to change in both the present and the future. Planning long-term for sustainability in a School of Nursing is a daunting task. With the ever-evolving health care climate of today involving clinical placement agencies, the pressures of government policy change, an revolving door effect of senior administrators, a constant turn-over in clinical instructors and faculty, and the diverse and changing student body in the academic setting, a robust sustainability model is needed in order to effectively maneuver these challenges. A sustainability model for implementing BPGs as well as the BPSO Program for academic institutions is necessary in order to effectively maintain best practice standards in nursing curricula. Part of this ACPF focused on conducting an integrated review of the literature, utilizing the method described by Whitmore and Knaft (2005) in order to identify and understand the literature on sustainability in the academic sector. I have synthesized the literature in many areas including health care am currently in the writing phase of a integrated review. By gaining the knowledge, skills, and expertise of understanding the full concept of sustainability, I have positioned myself to disseminate this to others in my institution at Nipissing University, our four programs of nursing, and nationally and internationally for all to benefit. 

My overall learning goals evolved around building my existing knowledge regarding a) sustainability in health care and other disciplines/areas, b) various nursing and non- nursing sustainability models/frameworks, in order to develop a working model that demonstrates a sustainability model of BPG implementation in academic institutions for BPSO excellence that will be implemented at Nipissing University School of Nursing by the end of the ACPF period. Specifically, I addressed the following detailed goals: o review the outcome of the literature review on sustainability and nursing education, as well as consult experts in the field to gain an understanding of the manifestations of the concept within an educational context that may lead to a working definition that will inform the development of a working model o Review the literature on sustainability and reflect on various models or frameworks of sustainability and consult experts in the area regarding model development to design a working sustainability model for Nipissing University’s School of Nursing o Write an in- depth integrated review of the literature for the purpose of understanding this area of research as it relates to undergraduate nursing education for publication at a nursing education journal within the year of the ACPF period.

Overall, my knowledge regarding sustainability has greatly increased. I have been able to synthesize the literature in this area. I first began to enhance my knowledge around sustainability concepts through the literature that included models, journal publications, etc from various disciplines and sectors of finance, business, health care, public policy development, economics, government, etc. This approach led to a massive amount of data being collected and I subsequently had to narrow my search on sustainability models and literature to health care alone. This allowed for a more focused approach and allowed me to hone-in on what was necessary to move forward with my specific project ie: sustainability for BPG implementation in undergraduate nursing programs.