Entry into community-based nursing practice: perceptions of prospective employers

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Community Health

Background:

• Preparing nursing graduates for community practice requires understanding employer needs.
• Existing curricula may not fully align with the demands of community-based nursing roles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key skills and qualities required for entry-level community nursing practice.
• To explore methods for redesigning nursing curricula to better prepare undergraduates for community settings.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing five focus groups with prospective employers (N=18) in Kentucky.
• Data collection focused on identifying essential nursing skills and curriculum improvement strategies.

Main Results:

• Assessment was the most frequently cited essential skill for community nursing.
• Independence, critical thinking, collaboration, and confidence were consistently identified as crucial skills and qualities.
• Employers expressed positivity towards partnerships for curriculum enhancement.

Conclusions:

• Collaboration between nurse educators and employers is vital for improving graduate marketability.
• Nursing curricula should integrate a stronger focus on assessment, critical thinking, and collaborative skills for community practice.