Retaining and transferring nursing knowledge through a hospital internship program.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Education
• Human Capital Development

Background:

• Healthcare organizations recognize human capital, particularly knowledge workers, as their most valuable asset.
• A significant shortage of health professionals necessitates investing in knowledge transfer strategies.
• Experienced nurses are crucial for imparting knowledge to less qualified personnel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe two innovative knowledge transfer programs at St. Michael's Hospital: a nurse fellowship and a nurse internship program.
• To evaluate the impact of the new-graduate nurse internship program on professional development and career enhancement.
• To highlight the importance of investing in nurses as knowledge workers.

Main Methods:

• Description of a nurse fellowship program for experienced nurses to acquire new clinical skills.
• Description of a nurse internship program for new graduate nurses to enhance clinical practice.
• Evaluation of the nurse internship program's outcomes for interns and preceptors.

Main Results:

• The nurse internship program enhances interns' self-esteem, professional confidence, and job satisfaction.
• Nurse preceptors experience job enrichment, gain teaching experience, and receive organizational recognition.
• Both programs facilitate essential knowledge transfer in response to nursing workforce challenges.

Conclusions:

• Investing in knowledge workers, especially nurses, is imperative for healthcare organizations.
• Innovative programs like fellowships and internships are effective for knowledge transfer and professional development.
• These initiatives contribute to nurse retention and the overall advancement of clinical practice.