Connecticut Center For Nursing Workforce Inc

TO FOSTER COLLABORATION AND FACILITATE RESEARCH ON NURSING AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO ENSURE A ROBUST, SUSTAINABLE, DIVERSE AND EXCEPTIONAL HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE IN CONNECTICUT.

WORK WITH THE WORKPLACE, INC.'S HEALTH CAREERX ACADEMY (HCA) TO HELP INDIVIDUALS IN CAREER TRANSITIONS SEEKING TO ENTER THE HEALTHCARE FIELD. IMPLEMENTATION OF A 6-MODULE CAREGIVER SCHOOL WORKSHOP IN COLLABORATION WITH THE VNA COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE TO TEACH THE HCA PARTICIPANTS THE FOUNDATION OF SAFE AND QUALITY CARE. CONDUCT CORE SKILLS TRAINING WORKSHOPS, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DIVERSITY WORKSHOPS AND ON-SITE SHADOWING EXPERIENCES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY AND EASE TRANSITION TO THE PRACTICE SETTING. SUPPORT THE HCA AS AN ACTIVE PARTNER TO VET NEW EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS, ENGAGE IN CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FOR ALL WORKSHOPS AND SESSIONS TO ACCURATELY REFLECT CURRENT EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS.

SPEARHEAD THE REPORTING OF CONNECTICUT'S NURSING & HEALTHCARE EDUCATION, SUPPLY AND WORKFORCE DEMAND DATA. DATA COLLECTED FROM ALL CONNECTICUT PRE-LICENSURE RN AND LPN PROGRAMS; CONNECTICUT LICENSE RENEWAL RECORDS FOR RN AND LPNS; AND FROM A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF PRACTICE SETTINGS. CONDUCT ANALYSIS TO: 1) UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT AND FUTURE DEMAND FOR NURSING AND HEALTHCARE ROLES ACROSS THE CARE CONTINUUM AND IDENITIFY THE EMPLOYEE TYPES THAT ARE IN GREATEST DEMAND BY OUR HEALTHCARE EMPLOYERS, 2) ASSESS AND QUANTIFY THE CAPACITY OF OUR CURRENT NURSING EDUCATION PATHWAYS TO PRODUCE THE NURSES NEEDED AND CREATE STRATEGIES TO INCREASE CT'S EDUCATIONAL CAPACITY AND 3) ANALYZE THE SUPPLY OF NURSES WITHIN CT TO ENSURE WORKFORCE AVAILABILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR HEALTHCARE EMPLOYERS ACROSS THE CARE CONTINUUM.

CNA INITIATIVE GRANT - DESIGNED, DEVELOPED, ESTABLISHED, AND IMPLEMENTED A NEW CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT (CNA) COURSE FOR THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF THE LONG-TERM CARE EMPLOYER. THE INNOVATIVE COURSE INCLUDED: (40) HOURS OF VIRTUAL FACILITATION, (18) HOURS OF VIRTUAL SIMULATION CASES AND ACTIVITIES AND (48) HOURS OF CLINICAL IMMERSION. THE COURSE WAS APPROVED BY THE CT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE PILOT COURSE WAS LAUNCHED IN NOVEMBER 2021 WITHIN TWO LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES

PROVIDE COORDINATION FOR THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT'S LPN TO RN BRIDGE COURSE OFFERED BY THE CHARTER OAK STATE COLLEGE. WORK WITH COURSE FACULTY, CT ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING PROGRAMS AND STUDENTS TO SUPPORT THE ENROLLMENT AND SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS OF THE COURSE. IN ADDITION, CREATED AND IMPLEMENTED AN 8-WEEK FAST-TRACK PILOT COURSE TO ASSIST CONNECTICUT NURSES TO RE-ENTER THE WORKFORCE IN RESPONSE THE EXPRESSED NEED FOR NURSES BY EMPLOYERS AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.