FOCUS ON FIRST STATE NURSING INNOVATION
After the COVID-19 pandemic, health systems and academic institutions have faced exacerbated shortages of nursing personnel and faculty. The nationwide shortage of clinical educators and nursing faculty is 9%; but a survey completed by the Delaware Nurses Association found that the State of Delaware full-time faculty shortage is 12.3%. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration there will be a shortage of 78,610 full-time RNs in 2025. Approximately 23.8% of newly hired registered nurses (RNs) leave their positions within the first year. This scenario has necessitated institutional leaders to develop innovative, impactful, and sustainable solutions.
To enhance the integration of theoretical knowledge and practical skills among nursing students, leaders at the University of Delaware and Bayhealth implemented a comprehensive academic and clinical practice partnership. By aligning clinical education experience with real-world practice through long-term engagement at a single facility, the focus is on the effectiveness of nurse preparation and retention. Concurrently, the development of clinical staff into teaching roles addresses the dual challenge of faculty shortage and professional growth, creating a sustainable model that strengthens both educational and clinical environments.
Leadership from the University of Delaware and Bayhealth developed a collaborative approach that addresses and works toward a seamless transition from education to practice. The SSS was designed to build a strong connection between nursing curricula and nursing practice. Experienced nurses at Bayhealth receive week-long training focused on the role of clinical faculty and serve as the faculty for the scholar program. The clinical faculty remain as paid hospital employees yet teach as clinical faculty with release time from hospital. Junior nursing students are recruited, apply for, interview, and are selected by Bayhealth to join the clinical scholar program their senior year. Student scholars in their final year of the BSN program at the University of Delaware complete their senior year of clinical experiences at Bayhealth. Student scholars receive a financial stipend and employment with a nurse residency after graduation into the health system with a two-year work commitment.
The experienced bedside nurse benefits from having the opportunity to stay at the bedside, with time off the floor to teach clinical, while gaining clinical teaching skills and earn a certificate or master’s degree in nursing education. Students who engage in a continuous, purposeful clinical experience at Bayhealth exhibit superior preparedness and adaptation to the RN role compared to their peers who experience multiple clinical settings and practice areas after graduation. This holistic approach not only improves the readiness and success of new RNs but also fortifies the clinical teaching infrastructure, embodying a forward-thinking leadership strategy in nursing education and workforce development.
