903 - Creating Workforce Agreements: Nursing Apprenticeship 101

Healthcare institutions are seeking to hire new nurses who are readily acclimated to their role and to their specific organization. This presentation addresses creation of nurse apprenticeship programs that lay the groundwork for success through work and learn opportunities that better prepare nurse graduates for their future work.

Educating nurses ready to meet the challenge of real-life nursing is an ongoing process for schools of nursing. In the current period of nursing shortage, nurses are in great demand and employers are working to help close the gap created by the nursing shortage. Apprenticeships have long been a standard of the trades and have recently garnered interest from nursing leadership.

Through a unique clinical practice model, nursing students enter an apprenticeship program where they receive nursing education along with on the job training and learning and mentoring at a healthcare facility. While attending nursing education programming and working in the hospital, students work to meet apprenticeship competencies. Nursing graduates who participate in apprenticeships will be better acclimated to the role of the nurse at the facility and are also socialized to the facility with mentors in place.

While still in the early stages of providing nurse apprenticeships, Ivy Tech Community College nurse leaders are learning about the impact of these agreements on student retention and completion. While it is understood that the nursing labor shortage cannot be resolved through apprenticeships alone, nursing apprenticeships and other student support agreements can be utilized to facilitate nursing student progress from nursing student to graduate to registered nurse.

This presentation will guide participants through the steps of creating a nurse apprenticeship. Tips and pointers will be provided regarding navigating the expectations of the U.S. Department of Labor for registered healthcare apprenticeship programs. Alternatives to registered apprenticeships will also be discussed.