Benefits of using undergraduate teaching assistants throughout a baccalaureate nursing curriculum.

The Residency Model of Nursing Education was put into practice at our institution to provide more active teaching-learning strategies, make use of innovative clinical approaches, and accommodate more students. A unique aspect of this creative curricular change is the use of undergraduate teaching assistants (UTAs) to provide mentor and mentee opportunities for nursing students and assist faculty with course logistics. This article describes the development, challenges, and benefits of implementing a UTA program in a baccalaureate school of nursing. Copyright 2010, SLACK Incorporated.