Healthcare Workforce Summit

6 Support Current Educators

Tactics highlighted by attendees include: >> Be proactive in ensuring that current nurse educators are not forgotten about regarding the need for their own education by supporting them with simulation training, the use of digital tools, training for new techniques, and providing mentors for new teachers. >> Help nurses understand where the stepping off points are for following an educator track. ◆ Create incremental achievements that are appealing and rewarding. >> Re-engage with students who step away or are some times not allowed to return e.g., when they cannot pay an outstanding loan debt so they can register for their next course. >> Expand training programs with Clinical programs. Mental Health, Hospice, Long Term Care, Community Home Care, ALF, Insurance Company Training FX members, Psych. >> Associate prepared nurses with experience to get new titles. >> Coordinate clerical support, guidance counseling and support. >> Provide mentors to help run master prep nurse guidance. >> Include in the conversation IT, AI credentialling, CAD support. >> Offer basic needs support such as childcare and transportation. >> Expand financial aid. >> Be creative about offering current educators benefits beyond wages such as faculty appointments.

Attendees felt that supporting the current cadre of nurse educators and smoothing the transition from clinical settings to educating, is vital to maintaining the current number of educators as long as possible, and just as important for novice educators. There were many ideas for the types of support needed including eliminating or streamlining some of the extra tasks that are currently the responsibility of the educator.

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Finger Lakes Workforce Development Center