Healthcare Workforce Summit

3 Formalize Partnerships

Tactics highlighted by attendees include: >> Academic Practice Partnership (education through academic side) offer an ‘Appointed adjunct’ position to educators. >> Educate employers about what ‘support’ means for a nurse educator and how to recognize transferrable skills. >> Make teaching part of the nursing job responsibilities. >> Healthcare systems collaborate with colleges to use employees as educators. ◆ Facilitate and support nurses interested in educating. ◆ This entails paying employees while they take shifts as educators. ◆ Collaborate with nurse directors responsible for making schedules, to support access to clinical sites and individuals interested in instructing. >> Non-certification program nursing educators can also function as certification program educators. >> For colleges – have programs that specialize in education collaborate with smaller nursing programs and schools to include an element of ‘train the educator’ in nursing tracks. >> Explore new sources of educators: ◆ The Black Nurses Association ◆ Nurse sororities ◆ Other new populations that haven’t been targeted. >> Think systemic - Partner with facilities to offer staff professional growth and education opportunities.

A theme that wove throughout the session was one where healthcare systems, employers and colleges work together to affect change. Partnerships and/or cooperative arrangements between these entities were considered essential components for success.

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Monroe Community College State University of New York