Abstract

Introduction: Interdisciplinary collaboration enhances high-quality educational programs that facilitate student’s educational experience. Universities and institutions of higher education are implementing innovative ways to increase student enrollment, maintain fiduciary responsibility while providing flexibility in course offerings. This flexibility enables faculty to connect with experts and students from other disciplines. One way to connect experts and students at a distance is through an online, interactive live format. The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing (SON) Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) course is using vMix and YouTube Live as an avenue to connect healthcare professionals and enhance student education.

Methods: The UAB SON ENP course is an online distance learning subspecialty program. To enhance didactic content, a collaborative effort between faculties of the SON and School of Medicine (SOM) was established. Technical support was provided by the UAB SON Department of Clinical Simulation and Training. This interdisciplinary partnership developed teaching strategies including a physician-delivered interactive lecture series to supplement and reinforce didactic content. This interactive ‘conversation’ was accomplished using vMix software and YouTube Live. vMix is a live production and streaming software platform that uses high definition (HD) video mixing for live broadcasting. This broadcast is produced live in the instructional design studio with a panel of content experts who connect remotely via desktop, laptop, iPad, or mobile device. Graphics and titles are added live to create long format interview production. The broadcast production is streamed live via YouTube and uses the chat function for student participation and interaction. The video is later uploaded to the UAB Kaltura Media server, so it can be shared later or added to a course.

Teaching Points: This interprofessional, interdisciplinary collaboration method offered through UAB ENP courses sets this effort apart from other ENP programs in the country. Designed to ensure best practices for ENPs in the Emergency Department setting, it strives to achieve better patient outcomes through interprofessional and interdisciplinary educational methods. The value of ENP course design and methods will be measured by patient outcomes, student’s performance on national certification exams, and by graduates’ ability to meet institutional-based metrics at post-graduation institutions of employment. If these strategies are successful, applying this technology to other programs will support faculty in facilitating and enhancing the educational experience for distance accessible learners.

Objectives

• Discuss the application of technology in distance accessible learning
• Review the challenges encountered using vMix and YouTube Live technology
• Discuss student responses to new technology use in distance accessible learning

Presenters

David House, DNP, CRNP, ENP-C, FNP-BC, CNS, UAB SON Family, Community, and Health Systems
Dr. House is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family, Community, and Health Systems at the UAB SON. He holds a BS degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University and a BSN from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. In 2008, Dr. House received his MSN as an Emergency Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He is dual board certified as an Emergency Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner. Dr. House received his DNP from Vanderbilt University in December 2016.

Melanie Gibbons Hallman, DNP, CRNP, CEN, FNP-BC, ACNP-BC, TCRN, FAEN, UAB SON Family, Community, and Health Systems
Dr. Hallman has been a leader in emergency services for over 39 years, serving as an emergency nurse practitioner for 23 years. She received four degrees and a teaching certificate from The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, where she has served as an instructor since 2006. She was a trailblazer in initiation of the emergency nurse practitioner subspecialty at the school in 2015. Dr. Hallman’s extensive experience and long-term commitment to the emergency services field greatly benefits patients, students, emergency services providers, and professional organizations.

Linda Brindley Thompson, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, UAB SOM, Department of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Thompson is a practicing Emergency Medicine physician since the late 1980s. She attended Emory University School of Medicine and went through her Emergency Medicine Residency at UAB. Dr. Thompson currently practices in the UAB Emergency Department teaching medical students and residents. Her primary academic appointment is in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine with adjunct positions in the School of Nursing and the School of Health Sciences. Dr. Thompson is the Director of the UAB Emergency Department Office of Community Emergency Medicine Outreach.

James Clark, UAB SON, Department of Clinical Simulation and Training
James Clark is an Instructional Designer at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing. He creates video and computer-based training material for the SON faculty. His background includes instructional design at a national bank and editing at a local network affiliate news broadcast.