Southeastern College Successfully Completes Perioperative Education Program at Cleveland Clinic. Results Validate Increased Ability to Hire Nurses.
Company Profile
Cleveland Clinic in Florida is a not-for-profit, multi-specialty group practice that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Cleveland Clinic in Florida has over 135 physicians with expertise in 35 specialties. The medical campus in Weston is fully integrated and includes diagnostic centers, outpatient surgery, and a 24-hour emergency department located in the state-of-the-art hospital, which was named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® in cardiovascular care by Thomson Healthcare in 2007.
Challenge
Cleveland Clinic in Florida is facing a challenge that all healthcare providers either are, or soon will be, facing – hiring nurses, training and retaining existing ones due to a nursing shortage that is expected to intensify as baby boomers age and the need for health care grows. Compounding the problem is the fact that nursing colleges and universities across the country are struggling to expand enrollment levels to meet the rising demand for nursing care and specialization. Marylou Schreiner, Director of Surgical Services, determined that she required an education partner to help create a specialized skills education program that would attract new nurses and quickly get them up to speed.
Solution
When looking for a nursing education provider that could meet all of her criteria, Marylou, went to Keiser Career College, Center for Nursing Education due to their many years of experience in healthcare education. She presented her needs and communicated the goals of the program to Southeastern College and after evaluating the options it became apparent that an on-site, hands-on education program would meet her requirements.
The solution was a 10 week, AORN perioperative course offered by Southeastern College, Center for Nursing Education. This course is for Registered Nurses or Graduate Nurses who have already taken their boards looking to specialize in the operating room. The course introduces the AORN Standards and Recommended Practices which provides the novice OR nurse with the rationale and theory needed to provide competent and safe patient care. The didactic portion is used in conjunction with a clinical preceptorship that enables return demonstration of competency skills. The course is also built to attract nurses from all areas and specialties who are searching for a supportive transition into operating room specialization.
Results
The solution met the primary goal of filling several open nursing positions by attracting new hires and existing nurses from other departments. As a result, Cleveland Clinic in Florida has improved their ability to attract and hire new nurses and was able to reduce their spending on contracted nurses.
“Because of this experience with Southeastern College, I am confident in their ability to provide quality education and develop specific solutions to meet all of my needs.” – Marylou Schreiner, Director of Surgical Services of Cleveland Clinic in Florida.