A regional approach to entry-level critical care education

The education and training of the novice critical care nurse place a constant financial demand on many Puget Sound area hospitals. Critical care educators from this area, committed to cost-effective, high-quality education, enhanced through precepted clinical experience, assessed the need for a collaborative approach among institutions. Jointly we have successfully planned, implemented, and evaluated a cooperative educational program. To date, the program has served to reduce the costs of preparing the RN entering critical care in the Puget Sound area. Application of principles of adult education, timely application of theory to practice, and expansion of the professional role of critical care clinical nurse specialists and educators have also been recognized as outcomes of the CCEC.