1002 - The Key to Clinical Success: Creating a Faculty Mentoring Program

Retaining experienced clinical faculty is a challenge that many nursing programs face. Training for new adjunct faculty is often sparse and limited to the weeks just prior to the start of the clinical rotations. One Associate Degree Nursing Program has re-designed the training and mentorship of clinical faculty to increase retention, satisfaction, and to optimize student learning outcomes through consistency. This method is focused on concentrated training, support, and clear communication with all clinical faculty. In this session, we will explore easy and effective ways to improve the onboarding and retention process of clinical faculty. Examples of training materials will be provided along with week-by-week guidelines about how this program maintains a personal investment in each of their faculty members. Clinical faculty report a higher level of satisfaction and faculty retention has improved.

Despite the challenges of not meeting face-to-face during the COVID pandemic, communication between clinical faculty and the clinical coordinator has remained strong. Students have expressed satisfaction in the consistency of expectations between clinical faculty. Attendees will leave with the tools in hand to implement similar measures within their own programs.