Linking Centralized and Decentralized Nursing Education

Abstract

<p>&lt;p&gt;A large multi-hospital system adopted an innovative strategy to unite the system NPD practitioners in the centralized education department and decentralized unit based NPD practitioners. The goals of this approach were to: develop a standardized approach and process to professional development and training across the system; create and promulgate effective training and development to advance the mission and strategy of the organization; and to share knowledge and best practices across the organization.&lt;/p&gt;<br />&lt;p&gt;Several strategies were developed. First, was the development of the Clinical Education Team Lead (CETL) role. This position serves as liaison between the centralized system education department and decentralized educators at the campus level, campus leadership and other system non-nursing groups. Divided according to size and location, and reporting at the campus levels, the three CETLs worked to establish and mentor a system education council of service line liaisons (SLLs). The SLLs lead service line educator groups for behavioral health, critical care, emergency department, medical-surgical, neurology, oncology, peri-operative, and women&rsquo;s health with representation from each hospital.&lt;/p&gt;<br />&lt;p&gt;The CETLs and the SLLs they mentor are continuing to reach the aforementioned goals. For example, the women&rsquo;s health and peri-operative service lines were both able to standardize their onboarding to create an experiential method for new hires into these specialty areas. Bridging the gap with the development of the CETL role has been beneficial for educators, staff nurses, leadership and non-nursing groups in the system.&lt;/p&gt;</p>