Developing a dedicated education unit in long-term care: a pilot project

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Management
• Geriatric Rehabilitation

Background:

• Transitional care settings in long-term care facilities provide crucial post-acute rehabilitation for older adults.
• Significant nursing shortages challenge the recruitment and retention of qualified staff in these facilities.
• Limited clinical placements and faculty shortages hinder nursing education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) as an innovative solution.
• To address challenges in nursing education and clinical placements within transitional care settings.
• To utilize the Partners in Caring Model as a framework for establishing the DEU.

Main Methods:

• An academic-practice partnership was formed to create a DEU.
• Experienced staff nurses were trained to serve as clinical teachers for nursing students.
• The Partners in Caring Model guided the DEU's development process.

Main Results:

• The DEU model facilitated clinical education for nursing students within a real-world setting.
• It provided a potential solution to the scarcity of clinical placement opportunities.
• The partnership aimed to bridge the gap between academic learning and clinical practice.

Conclusions:

• Dedicated Education Units (DEUs) offer a viable model for enhancing nursing education.
• This innovative approach can help alleviate nursing faculty shortages and improve clinical training.
• The DEU framework shows promise for supporting transitional care settings and the nursing workforce.