Collaborative co-op as a means to expand BSN enrollment & diversity

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Team Collaboration
• Clinical Competence

Background:

• Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs may benefit from innovative clinical components.
• Enhancing student understanding of interprofessional roles is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.
• Experiential learning is a key pedagogical approach in nursing education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an innovative collaborative co-op program for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students.
• To enhance students' expertise in supervision and delegation within a healthcare team setting.
• To deepen students' understanding of differentiated practice roles and responsibilities.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a four-summer structured, mentored co-op clinical experience.
• Integration of experiential learning focused on cultural competence and evidence-based nursing care.
• Provision of counseling, mentoring, and academic support for participating students.

Main Results:

• Students gained in-depth understanding of the distinct and complementary responsibilities of nursing assistants, practical nurses, and professional nurses.
• Enhanced expertise in supervision and delegation skills was observed among co-op students.
• The program provided challenging and responsible clinical experiences beyond traditional BSN requirements.

Conclusions:

• The collaborative co-op model effectively enhances nursing students' practical skills and role comprehension.
• Structured, mentored clinical experiences improve cultural competence and evidence-based practice.
• This innovative approach prepares BSN graduates for diverse healthcare team dynamics.