Critical care experience for baccalaureate nursing students

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Workforce Development

Background:

• Projected shortages in critical care nursing require innovative solutions.
• The relationship between nursing education and clinical practice is crucial for workforce stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore a collaborative model between nursing education and service to address critical care nurse needs.
• To highlight the impact of positive student experiences on recruitment in critical care nursing.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a collaborative approach involving nursing education, nursing service, and community agencies.
• Analysis of graduate employment trends based on prior student experiences.

Main Results:

• The collaborative model demonstrated mutual benefits for the institution and community agencies.
• Positive student clinical experiences were identified as a key factor influencing new graduates' career choices.

Conclusions:

• Collaboration between nursing education and service is essential for meeting critical care nursing demand.
• Fostering positive student experiences in critical care can enhance recruitment and retention in the field.