Gonzaga Nursing Streamlines Clinical Placement with CORE

In Gonzaga’s nursing department, a significant challenge led to a transformative project aimed at streamlining clinical placement processes. Clinical placement, a vital part of nursing education, was becoming increasingly complex due to the need to manage multiple platforms for compliance documents, onboarding, student case logs, time logs, and clinical site management. This disjointed combination frustrated students and faculty alike, leading to inefficiencies and delays. Leaders in the nursing department knew there had to be a better way.

The solution came in the form of CORE Higher Education Group. CORE offers a technology suite that includes an experiential learning management system and a competency mapping system—together they form a centralized platform for managing these processes. Shannon Emrey, Director of Clinical Placement, explained, the hope was to bring all compliance documents, time logs, and case logs into one streamlined system. Previously, they had been using a myriad of tools like Castle Branch, CPNW, Power BI, and Typhon, with each handling a specific aspect of the process. This fragmented approach required staff to juggle multiple platforms, creating more work and increasing the likelihood of errors. Not to mention the challenges with keeping staff trained in each system.

Jennifer Garrity, a member of the Clinical Faculty in the Nursing program who helps with Clinical Placement, focused on the student aspect of changing the current processes. Both Emrey and Garrity worked closely with ITS staff during the implementation to ensure all those affected by the changes were represented.

Implementing CORE promised to consolidate these tools and make the process more efficient. Although the team is currently using both the old and new systems as they transition, Emrey and Garrity see hope. "It's going to be a lot more streamlined," Emrey noted, as the department moves from five or six platforms down to two, CORE and CPNW, making everyone's job easier overall.

The project, however, was not without its hurdles. The department collaborated with CORE’s development team for a year, starting in December 2023, to ensure the platform met their specific needs. The initial expectation was that CORE’s team would handle everything seamlessly, but it quickly became apparent that a collaborative effort was required. Both sides had to learn each other’s processes, which prolonged the implementation but led to a more tailored and effective solution.

The decision to pilot CORE with the undergraduate nursing program, instead of starting with graduate students as originally planned, proved to be another smart move. The simpler structure of the undergraduate program allowed them to test the platform and adjust before rolling it out to the more complex graduate programs. The nursing department plans to have all students transitioned into CORE by spring 2026, avoiding any abrupt changes for current students who are already in the middle of their programs. This approach was driven by a desire to be fair and considerate, especially since students had already paid fees for the old systems.

A key driver for this change was student feedback. Many students expressed frustration with the multiple platforms they had to navigate, as well as the time-consuming issues like waiting for slow systems to load. By consolidating everything into one platform with single sign-on capabilities, the department hopes to alleviate many of these pain points.

Jennifer Garrity highlighted the importance of the entire department getting on board with the new system, calling it a "big win." The move to CORE represents a shift from piecemeal solutions like paper processes and electronic forms to a more cohesive system. This transformation is expected to make life easier for students and significantly improve the workflow for faculty and staff.

For Emery, the biggest win is the simplification of her team's workflow. As the director of clinical placement, she oversees a team responsible for ensuring everything from student compliance to placement requests runs smoothly. Having one place where students, faculty, and staff can access all necessary information will reduce the administrative burden.

The department is also looking to expand CORE’s capabilities in the future. One challenge remains is managing clinical affiliation agreements, which are stored on SharePoint. Transitioning these agreements into CORE would not only improve efficiency but also give students access to key details about their placements, such as required vaccinations and certifications.

The nursing department’s adoption of CORE is about creating a better experience for everyone involved. With the program growing rapidly, particularly in areas like the Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs, having a robust, streamlined system will be crucial for managing future growth. The project represents a forward-thinking approach to solving the complex challenges of clinical placement in nursing education, and both Emrey and Garrity are optimistic about the future benefits for students and staff alike.

The project was sponsored by the Dean of the School of Health Sciences, Julie Wolter. The core project team included Brian Adamson and Raul Alvarez from ITS, as well as Shannon Emrey, Jennifer Garrity, Kaylyn O'Rourke, Joan Owens, Amber Pangborn, Brittany Slegers, and Chris Sloan from The School of Health Sciences.