Promoting Nursing Honors Education Sustainability Through Best Practices

Abstract

This poster describes leadership strategies employed by a Scholar participating in the Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Experienced Nurse Faculty Leadership Academy (ENFLA) to address these challenges. The nursing honors program highlighted, located in the southwest region of the United States, experienced rapid and significant expansion in student numbers over a three-year period, accompanied by an increase in the depth, breadth, rigor, and quality of honors work and requirements. As the program thrived and yielded meaningful outcomes, with tangible benefits to students, faculty, the University, the College of Nursing, and to community partners, university leaders and administrators recognized the value of continued investment in the program. However, as resources in higher education became increasingly competitive, resource allocation failed to keep pace with the program’s growth, thereby jeopardizing program sustainability.