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.