Partnerships and new learning models to create the future perioperative nursing workforce

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Workforce Development
• Surgical Nursing

Background:

• The perioperative nursing workforce faces shortages.
• Innovative strategies are needed for sustainable workforce development.
• Existing nursing programs may lack sufficient perioperative experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement an innovative learning model for perioperative nursing.
• To reintroduce perioperative experiences into a baccalaureate nursing program.
• To address the perioperative nurse shortage through education and training.

Main Methods:

• Collaboration between hospital nursing leaders and a nursing school.
• Implementation of a nursing student externship program.
• Development of elective perioperative courses and clinical placement sites.
• Creation of a revised internship for experienced nurses transitioning to perioperative roles.

Main Results:

• Decreased reliance on agency nurses at the externship site.
• Increased numbers of younger nurses in perioperative areas post-externship.
• High satisfaction levels reported by participating nurses.
• Abatement of the perioperative nurse shortage at the hospital.

Conclusions:

• The innovative learning model effectively addresses perioperative nurse shortages.
• The collaboration established a sustainable pathway for recruiting new perioperative nurses.
• The program fostered high satisfaction and positive workforce changes.