Enrolled nurse trainees in acute care.
Enrolled nurses (ENs) play a pivotal role in the health workforce in Australia and the role is expanding in many practice settings. An EN traineeship was introduced in an acute medical/surgical setting at St Vincents & Mercy Private Hospital (STVMPH) a large metropolitan private hospital in Victoria, in 2005. Since then there has been a significant increase in the EN workforce across all clinical areas within the organisation. With consideration of skill mix the current percentage of 18.3% of the nursing workforce is ENs. This review shows the viability of such a program in relation to workforce planning and recruitment. Enrolled nurses are a valuable source in the health care environment. The latest figures indicate there are 230,192 registered nurses (RNs) and 52, 895 ENs (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2010). Enrolled nurses account for approximately 23% of the nursing workforce. The common setting for education (clinical placement) and employment for ENs is aged care. Education and employment of ENs in acute hospital settings is necessary to broaden the skill mix of nursing staff in an acute environment. The acute medical setting encourages ENs to develop and advance their clinical skills to practice acute nursing care within their scope of practice.
St Vincents & Mercy Private Hospital.
Elissa
E
Bull
Janet
J
Hickey
D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009743:Nursing, Practical / Q000193:education*; D014739:Victoria; D000078329:Workforce