Returning Nurses to the Workforce: Developing a Fast Track Back Program

• Published in: Nursing forum (Hillsdale) Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 125 - 132
• Main Authors: Burns, Helen K., Sakraida, Teresa J., Englert, Nadine C., Hoffmann, Rosemary L., Tuite, Patricia, Foley, Susan M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.07.2006; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Academic Medical Centers - organization & administration; Attitude of Health Personnel; Clinical Competence; Computer-Assisted Instruction - methods; Computer-Assisted Instruction - standards; Curriculum; education; Education, Nursing, Continuing - organization & administration; Education, Professional, Retraining - organization & administration; Evidence-Based Medicine; Health care; high fidelity human simulation; Hospitals; Humans; Interinstitutional Relations; Internet - organization & administration; Labor force; Learning; Licensure, Nursing; Nurse; Nurse's Role; Nurses; Nursing; Nursing Education Research; Nursing Informatics - education; Nursing Process; nursing shortage; Nursing Staff, Hospital - education; Nursing Staff, Hospital - psychology; Nursing Staff, Hospital - supply & distribution; Pennsylvania; Professional development; Program Development; Program Evaluation; refresher course; Schools, Nursing - organization & administration; Skill development; Technological change; Time Factors; Pennsylvania
• ISSN: 0029-6473; 1744-6198
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-6198.2006.00048.x

TOPIC.  Fast Track Back: Re‐entry into Nursing Practice program. PURPOSE AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION.  Describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a state‐of‐the‐art re‐entry program facilitating the return of licensed nonpracticing RNs to the workforce through a quality education program that retools them for the workforce in the areas of pharmacology, skill development using the latest technology, practice standards, and nursing issues. The program consists of didactic content taught via classroom, Internet, skills laboratory, and high fidelity human simulated technology and a clinical component. CONCLUSIONS.  The program is a mechanism that enables re‐entry nurses to improve skills and competencies necessary to practice in today's healthcare environment.