Fussell Family Foundation Second Year Emergency Nursing Program
Tracks
Concurrent Stream 1
| Thursday, October 17, 2024 |
| 1:10 PM - 1:30 PM |
| Ionic Room |
Overview
Lesley Fitzpatrick
Speaker
Mrs Lesley Fitzpatrick
Clinical Nurse Consultant
Royal North Shore Hospital
Fussell Family Foundation Second Year Emergency Nursing Program
1:10 PM - 1:30 PMAbstract
Introduction: Transitioning into a new role in the Emergency Department (ED) can be overwhelming and stressful, especially in a high-pressure critical care environment. Internationally, there is limited research for programs that support the transition of second year Registered Nurses (RN) into ED, a period often marked by high attrition rates and low confidence. Recognising these issues, a philanthropically funded program was implemented to support second-year nurses transition into a busy metropolitan ED.
Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of implementing a Fussell Family Foundation Second Year (FFFSY) ED RN program into a tertiary referral level six metropolitan hospital.
Methods: The FFFSY ED RN program was developed to have a structured, consistent professional development pathway, with a dedicated funded clinical nurse educator. A retrospective quantitative review from March 2018 to October 2023 was conducted through participant surveys, course evaluations, and retention statistics.
Results: Over five years, a total of 86 registered nurses entered the program of which 75 graduated the program. The overall average retention rate was 87%, with the attrition rate of 13%, significantly lower than the international average. Comparing the 18-month program to the 12-month program demonstrated a 48% increase in online learning, 14% increase in clinical skills, and 25% in leadership roles. Participant evaluation demonstrated a 20% increase in clinical support; 32% increase in mentorship; and 18% increase in achieving goals. In March and April 2024, the transition program intake has 29 RN’s, double the intake of previous years.
Conclusion: The philanthropically funded FFFSY program initiative demonstrated that targeted support during the critical transition of second year nurses into the ED can enhance nurse retention, achieve critical care skills and improve professional development. This model can serve as a framework for other ED's seeking to address similar challenges, emphasising the importance of investment in early-career nurse support systems.
Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of implementing a Fussell Family Foundation Second Year (FFFSY) ED RN program into a tertiary referral level six metropolitan hospital.
Methods: The FFFSY ED RN program was developed to have a structured, consistent professional development pathway, with a dedicated funded clinical nurse educator. A retrospective quantitative review from March 2018 to October 2023 was conducted through participant surveys, course evaluations, and retention statistics.
Results: Over five years, a total of 86 registered nurses entered the program of which 75 graduated the program. The overall average retention rate was 87%, with the attrition rate of 13%, significantly lower than the international average. Comparing the 18-month program to the 12-month program demonstrated a 48% increase in online learning, 14% increase in clinical skills, and 25% in leadership roles. Participant evaluation demonstrated a 20% increase in clinical support; 32% increase in mentorship; and 18% increase in achieving goals. In March and April 2024, the transition program intake has 29 RN’s, double the intake of previous years.
Conclusion: The philanthropically funded FFFSY program initiative demonstrated that targeted support during the critical transition of second year nurses into the ED can enhance nurse retention, achieve critical care skills and improve professional development. This model can serve as a framework for other ED's seeking to address similar challenges, emphasising the importance of investment in early-career nurse support systems.
Biography
With 19 years of international nursing experience, Lesley is a clinical nurse consultant in a tertiary referral metropolitan Emergency Department. Renowned as an author and peer reviewer for the Australian Emergency Nursing Journal, she has published 11 research papers covering a spectrum of clinical specialities. Lesley is a co-author of six book chapters, including Cardiovascular Emergencies in the textbook Emergency and Trauma Care for Nurses and Paramedics. As a former Honorary Associate at the University of Technology Sydney, she co-developed the subject comprehensive physical assessment and diagnostic reasoning for a post graduate health subject.
