ARIZONA NEWS

Maricopa County program to give nursing students hands-on experience at medical facilities

Jan 30, 2022, 6:30 AM

(File Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)...

(File Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

(File Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

PHOENIX — Maricopa County announced Thursday the launch of a pilot program that will provide nursing students with hands-on experience in a professional setting prior to graduation so they can thrive in the industry immediately amid a staffing shortage.

The pilot program will pair 50 senior nursing students one-on-one with a nurse preceptor in environments like a hospital or other community entities for the last six weeks of their schooling, the county said in a press release.

The county said there were 5,685 registered nurse vacancies in Maricopa County last April, a 40% jump from 2020. It is expected the shortage will continue due to high burnout from the pandemic and retirements.

“Having a nursing shortage during a pandemic is a true crisis, and no one entity can solve it alone,” Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates of District 3 said in the release.

“However, we’ve identified one area where we think we can make a difference, and that’s in making sure more nurses are ready to hire straight out of school.”

Robin Schaeffer, pilot project manager, said new graduate nurses without hands-on clinical experiences can also feel “unprepared for and overwhelmed by their first job.”

“Many choose to leave the profession permanently within two years of graduation,” Schaeffer said. “Since the pandemic hit, hands-on clinical experiences and practice readiness have decreased and onboarding time of (new graduate nurse) hires has increased.

“This comes at a significant financial cost and adds additional stress to the current staff. It’s just not sustainable.”

Funding for the program comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, according to the release, and the county said it is partnering with nursing schools and employers to create and implement the hands-on experience.

The county said the hope of the program is to not only grow the pool of nurses ready to hire upon graduation but keep them in the profession long-term.

More than 2,000 nurses graduate each year in Maricopa County, the county said.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona News

Antwaun Ware received a life sentence for killing Jasmine Dunbar in 2018....

Kevin Stone

Man who killed woman, left baby on side of West Valley road in 2018 gets life sentence

A man who killed his ex-girlfriend and abandoned her baby on the side of a West Valley road in 2018 was sentenced to life in prison.

2 hours ago

Silver Alert issued for 68-year-old man last seen in Phoenix...

KTAR.com

Silver Alert canceled after missing 68-year-old Valley man returns home

A Silver Alert was canceled after a missing 68-year-old man named Gregory Wascher who was last seen on Wednesday returned home on Friday.

4 hours ago

APS energy customers will soon see another rate increase....

Kevin Stone

Here’s why APS energy customers will soon see another rate increase

APS energy customers will soon see another rate increase after state regulators signed off on a proposed adjustment this week.

4 hours ago

A man died after being pulled from a house fire in Phoenix's Arcadia neighborhood on Friday morning...

Kevin Stone

Man dead after house fire in Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood

A man died after being pulled from a house fire in Phoenix's Arcadia neighborhood on Friday morning, authorities said.

5 hours ago

off-road vehicle crash...

Kevin Stone

1 teen killed, another seriously injured in off-road vehicle crash at Phoenix canal

One teenager was killed and another was seriously injured in an off-road vehicle crash at a Phoenix canal on Thursday evening, authorities said.

6 hours ago

A new report found one-third of Arizona public grade school students are chronically absent from sc...

Balin Overstolz

Chronic absentee rate for Arizona students remains far above pre-pandemic level, study finds

A new report found one-third of Arizona public grade school students are chronically absent from school, which is double the absence rate before the pandemic.

8 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

The UPS Store

How The UPS Store is giving back to the community

PHOENIX -- As 2024 nears a close, The UPS Store is looking to give back to the Arizona community with the holiday season approaching.

...

Schwartz Laser Eye Center

Don’t miss the action with this game-changing procedure

PHOENIX -- The clear lens exchange procedure has emerged as a popular alternative to LASIK eye surgery.

...

Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

Why a Heating Tune-Up is Essential Before Winter

PHOENIX, AZ — With cooler weather on the horizon, making sure your heating system is prepped and ready can make all the difference in staying comfortable this winter.

Maricopa County program to give nursing students hands-on experience at medical facilities