Integrating QSEN and Technology to Address Rural Health Care: Initial Outcomes

Innovative educational approaches are needed to meet the growing technology demands of our health care system and the expectation for integration of Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) competencies in undergraduate curricula. Preparing baccalaureate nursing students to deliver health care services in rural environments requires awareness of multiple factors, including rural nursing practice challenges and rural culture. Nursing faculty at a Midwestern public university located in a predominantly rural state designed an integrated approach to address these needs through technology-focused and QSEN-based simulation scenarios. This manuscript presents the activities and outcomes from the 1st year of the project.