RE-IMAGINING PARTNERSHIP: AN ANSWER TO RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT AT A TERTIARY PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL

Ryall K, Jefferson R

Children¡¯s and Women¡¯s Health Center of British Columbia,

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

 

Objectives: The goal of this project was to improve recruitment and retention of pediatric specialty nurses. The issue of recruitment was viewed from the perspective of excellence in orientation and education while the issue of retention considered the value attached to involving nurses experienced in a specialty.

Methods: A partnership was developed between British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and Children¡¯s & Women¡¯s Health Center of British Columbia (C&W) to develop and implement specialty education programs for nurses in pediatric and neonatal intensive care, perioperative and post-anesthetic care, and neuroscience nursing. The programs are a combination of theory and clinical courses and the nurses are paid full salary during the programs. Educators have joint appointments with BCIT and C&W.

Results: The number of students who entered the program since 1998 has been assessed and the outcomes of the education program evaluated from the orientation perspective as well as from the retention and recruitment perspective.

Conclusions: The partnership has not only been successful but allowed nurses to be involved in the process, adding value to their role and responsibility. Nurses have also been given funded credits towards advanced degrees.

 

 
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