The Nursing Assistant to Licensed Practical Nurse Program: a collaborative career ladder experience.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Nursing Workforce Development
• Veterans Affairs Healthcare

Background:

• The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) faces challenges in providing cost-effective, quality care to an aging veteran population with complex co-morbid illnesses.
• The increasing complexity of patient needs necessitates advanced nursing education for caregivers within the VA system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the design and implementation of a program at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center (VAMC) to upskill experienced nursing assistants into licensed practical nurses.
• To address the need for enhanced nursing education to meet the complex health requirements of veterans.

Main Methods:

• Established a collaborative agreement with an educational institution to offer a nursing program.
• Defined clear selection criteria for participants.
• Secured funding, developed a mentoring program, and coordinated with Human Resources and Fiscal Services.
• Outlined a service obligation for program graduates.

Main Results:

• The Nursing Assistant to Licensed Practical Nurse Program was successfully established through collaboration between the VAMC and an academic institution.
• The first year of the program was deemed a successful collaborative effort by both the VAMC and the affiliating educational institution.

Conclusions:

• The collaborative program effectively enhances the skills of nursing staff to manage complex veteran health conditions.
• This initiative represents a successful model for improving nursing education and care within the VA system.