Enrolled nurse trainees in acute care

Area of Science:

• Nursing Workforce Development
• Healthcare Management
• Clinical Education

Background:

• Enrolled nurses (ENs) are integral to the Australian health workforce, with their roles expanding across various practice settings.
• Traditionally, ENs are predominantly employed in aged care, necessitating broader integration into acute hospital environments.
• The integration of ENs into acute care settings is crucial for diversifying the nursing skill mix.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the viability of an Enrolled Nurse (EN) traineeship program in an acute medical/surgical setting.
• To assess the program's impact on workforce planning and recruitment within a large private hospital.
• To highlight the value of ENs in acute care environments for skill mix enhancement.

Main Methods:

• A review of an established EN traineeship program implemented in 2005 at St Vincents & Mercy Private Hospital (STVMPH).
• Analysis of workforce data to determine the increase in EN numbers and their current percentage within the organization's nursing workforce.
• Consideration of the program's role in workforce planning and recruitment strategies.

Main Results:

• The EN traineeship program has led to a significant increase in the EN workforce across all clinical areas at STVMPH.
• ENs now constitute 18.3% of the hospital's nursing workforce, demonstrating successful integration.
• The program proves the viability of EN traineeships for enhancing workforce planning and recruitment in acute care.

Conclusions:

• Enrolled nurses are a valuable and expandable resource within the healthcare environment.
• Implementing EN traineeships in acute settings is essential for broadening the nursing skill mix.
• Acute medical settings provide opportunities for ENs to develop advanced clinical skills within their scope of practice.