Nursing shortage. Catalyst for administrative/educational partnership

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Administration
• Workforce Development

Background:

• Healthcare agencies face challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified nursing staff.
• Educational institutions seek to increase enrollment and program accessibility.
• There is a need for innovative solutions linking service and education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of an on-site registered nursing (RN) education program.
• To evaluate the program's impact on nursing staff recruitment and retention.
• To present findings useful for similar collaborative initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative program was developed by a nurse administrator and nurse educator.
• The program offered academically sound RN education tailored for full-time employed individuals.
• Phases included assessing needs, planning, implementing, and evaluating the on-site program.

Main Results:

• The program successfully recruited and retained nursing staff for the healthcare agency.
• College enrollments in the nursing program increased.
• Employees benefited from convenient, low-cost, and accessible educational opportunities.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative partnerships between healthcare agencies and educational institutions can effectively address nursing workforce challenges.
• On-site RN education programs provide a viable model for improving recruitment, retention, and accessibility.
• This model offers mutual benefits for healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and nursing professionals.