With expanded programs in the health professions and the recent opening of new classrooms and clinical spaces in the Hursey Center for Advanced Engineering and Health Professions, the University of Hartford is boldly positioned to train the skilled health-care workers in demand in Connecticut. Committed to preparing our students to be career ready, the University's nursing curriculum incorporates practical and real-world learning opportunities, while recognizing and addressing the myriad of health-care needs that residents in surrounding communities have.
To support the University of Hartford's efforts to educate tomorrow's leaders in nursing, the Aetna Foundation has granted the University $250,000 to work towards the goal of improving health outcomes through diversity and collaboration. The project is aimed at expanding and diversifying the registered nurse workforce by preparing UHart students to better meet the needs of residents in the greater Hartford area through several key objectives, including recruiting and retaining a diverse cohort of future nurses, developing meaningful learning opportunities to facilitate academic success, and engaging our health professions students in learning experiences focused on reducing health inequities and on understanding social determinants of health.
Through our ongoing partnership with the Aetna Foundation, the University has developed a solid foundation for nursing students. New clinical simulation equipment and training modules enable us to give students exposure to a broad range of scenarios and social challenges they may encounter with patients in the real world. In addition, interprofessional collaboration addresses key practice competencies such as clinical reasoning, prioritization of care, and care coordination. Through these expanded learning opportunities, faculty can guide students in risk-free and controlled environments, while students, through repeated practice, can master their competencies and skills.