title: Back to the future: A practice led transition program from Assistant in Nursing to Enrolled Nurse.
abstract: Continuing professional development is an essential element in professional nursing practice. In our Hospital and Health service, a gap in existing nursing pathways was identified for Assistants in Nursing (AINs), who wished to further their career in nursing and progress to Enrolled Nurse (EN). There is also little in the literature that addresses Assistants in Nursing wishing to progress their career to Enrolled Nurses. This article describes a quality improvement project designed to address this gap. The project was a collaborative venture between a Queensland Hospital and Health Service and an Institute of Tertiary and Further Education (TAFE). The focus was on creating a flexible career path for Assistants in Nursing, wishing to become Enrolled Nurses. The project resulted in the Diploma of Nursing program (theory and practice) being delivered within the hospital setting by nurse educators and clinical nurse consultants. This is unusual in that the program is normally delivered in the tertiary setting, by academic staff from the Institute of Further Education. Program implementation is described along with the challenges encountered. Outcomes from the project were: 78% completion rate; 100% employment on completion of their course of study; and 18% progressing to further their education such as Advance Enrolled Nurse or Registered Nurse. Student satisfaction regarding the program was also positive. The initiative established a local career path for Assistants in Nursing wishing to progress to Enrolled Nurse. This quality project demonstrates that collaborative ventures between the tertiary sector and hospital and health services, can create innovative flexible solutions for staff wishing to further their career in nursing.
authors.affiliation: Practice Development Unit, Sunshine Coast Hospital & Health Service, PO Box 547, Nambour, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: annette.faithfull-byrne@health.qld.gov.au.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faithfull-Byrne
authors.affiliation: Practice Development Unit, Sunshine Coast Hospital & Health Service, PO Box 547, Nambour, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: lorraine.thompson2@health.qld.gov.au.
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Central Queensland University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, 96 Goodchap St, Noosaville, Queensland 4566, Australia. Electronic address: a.welch@cqu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.affiliation: Central Queensland University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, 96 Goodchap St, Noosaville, Queensland 4566, Australia. Electronic address: m.williamson@cqu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Moira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.affiliation: Practice Development Unit, Sunshine Coast Hospital & Health Service, PO Box 547, Nambour, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: keppel.schafer@health.qld.gov.au.
authors.forename: Keppel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schafer
authors.affiliation: Practice Development Unit, Sunshine Coast Hospital & Health Service, PO Box 547, Nambour, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: claire.hallinan@health.qld.gov.au.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hallinan
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D004510:Education, Nursing, Diploma Programs; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000193:education*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D011793:Queensland; D013338:Students, Nursing
keywords: Assistant in Nursing; Diploma in Nursing; Enrolled Nurse; Professional education