NEW YORK NURSE: June 2010

Healthcare Workforce Retraining Initiative

Web-based series will prepare clinical experts for clinical faculty roles

by Erin Silk

NYSNA has been awarded a $41,000 grant to implement the Healthcare Workforce Training Initiative (HWRI), a webinar series that will help clinical experts make the transition to clinical adjunct faculty roles.

From clinical to clinical classroom

Part one of the grant, beginning in September, will allow for a series of four, two-hour live webinars to train registered nurses who possess a master’s degree, or who are working towards a master’s degree and are therefore eligible to become adjunct clinical instructors. This empowering series will give adjunct clinical faculty the tools they need to succeed in their new educator roles. A total of eight continuing education contact hours will be awarded.

Part two of the grant consists of an all day, seven-hour symposium titled: “Focus on Clinical Adjuncts and Faculty Mentors.” The symposium is part of “Faculty Camp,” a live two-day workshop that will be offered in June 2011. This on-site event brings new clinical adjuncts together with seasoned faculty for engaging discussion of best practices and new ways to evaluate learning.

Making the transition

Webinar participants will experience an interactive program that addresses some common concerns of new adjunct clinical faculty and help them learn to fit into the educational system.

Training goals include:

Evaluating the effectiveness of the webinar series for role transition from a facility-based clinical expert to clinical adjunct faculty.
Collaborating with other clinical adjuncts and their faculty mentors to share best practices in teaching and lessons learned.
Recommending revisions to the curriculum for future clinical adjunct faculty development.

Included in the series are: what to expect when transitioning from clinical expert to adjunct clinical instructor, connecting classroom curriculum to the clinical classroom, and the principles of adult learning. The challenges and rewards of pursuing academia as a full-time career will also be explored.

Education Practice and Research Associate Director Ann Purchase hopes that adjunct faculty will take advantage of both the webinar and live workshop symposium. “The webinar series is a great opportunity to interact with other clinical adjuncts throughout the state without having to leave your office; while the symposium will bring everyone face-to-face for meaningful collaboration and dialogue,” she said.