N2K: Employer Sponsored Pathway to Health Careers Presented by The Oregon Health Career Center

Why We’re Here “Our mission is to serve as the focus of a public/private partnership dedicated to addressing healthcare workforce shortages in Oregon via education and training, with a particular emphasis on diversity.”

Our Partners Oregon Office of Rural Health Oregon Workforce Investment Board Oregon Association of Hospitals & Health Systems Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education Oregon Department of Community Colleges & Workforce Development

Oregon’s Nurse Workforce Crisis “The nursing shortage is adversely affecting patient care, the safety and morale of the nursing workforce, and is driving up the cost of care. A worsening shortage is predicted over the next decade.” Northwest Health Foundation

Helping to Address Nursing Shortages Creating a Contract Education Model Adds Educational Capacity Back-up for Variable Need Entirely Employer Paid

Changing the Paradigm Creating a Business Model A Need (Demand) An Education Service (Supply) An Investment

Traditional ExpensesN2K Expenses Agency Personnel Unscheduled Overtime Relocation Cost Incentive Bonuses Retention Costs Educational Cost Clinical Support for Student Other Support Costs Cost Totals

Benefits of a Contract Education Model Supports place-bound students and incumbent workers Utilizes the strength and economy-of-scale available through partnership Actively engages employers

The N2K Model Customized Contract Education Incumbent Workers Modified Course Schedule Hospital RN’s as Clinical Adjunct Faculty Student Support Services Employee Returns to Work as an RN

Oregon Health Career Center Design and Development Project Management Employer Support Services Community College Support

Best Practices – A Model That Works Chemeketa CC Cohort Central Oregon CC Cohort Clackamas CC/Kaiser Cohort Portland CC Cohort Clackamas CC Cohort (June ’08) Statewide Cohort (Summer ’08)

Oregon’s Statewide Nursing Ed Program Key Elements Flexible “Virtual” Cohorts Innovative use of distance learning technologies OCNE curriculum Employer involvement and support

Oregon Consortium for Nursing Partnership with OHCC to coordinate statewide curriculum delivery for contract education Leadership to maintain high standards for this nursing education endeavor

Oregon’s Statewide Nursing Education Program Initial cohort will include qualified employee/students Two or three geographic “clusters” of hospitals/community colleges will be included Educational services will include a blend of distance learning, local college services and hospital learning sites.

Important Advantages Addresses immediate needs of partner hospitals with severe nursing staff shortages Doesn’t require a permanent commitment of limited college resources

Minimizes Impact on College Resources all resources provided by participating colleges are negotiated in advance. project costs incurred by participating colleges are fully paid by the N2K program.

Key Outcomes: Intended….. Incumbent workers become nurses Hospitals provide needed financial support Increase in clinical training sites

………and Unintended Hospital employee morale benefit Potential for new nursing faculty Establishing partnerships that can lead to other collaborative opportunities

Is This Model Replicable? Is there a need that’s difficult to fill? Is there an atmosphere of trust and collaboration between college and industry? Are all parties willing to participate proactively and openly? Are all parties willing to think outside the box, question assumptions, explore new ways to build and deliver educational programs?

Gary Wappes President and CEO Oregon Health Career Center Ext