August 26, 2020 (originally planned for July 21, 2020)
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Changing the date gives the planning committee time to get the speakers we need to inspire us about education and careers in long-term care.
Who: Policymakers, nursing students, registered nurses, long-term care employers, and nurse education program stakeholders
Why: Washington’s population is rapidly aging, and one of three citizens will require long-term care services. Our state has a rich history of providing care to senior and disabled citizens in a variety of long-term care settings, including nursing homes, assisted living, adult family homes and supported living, however, these providers are finding it increasingly difficult to hire and retain nurses. While the long-term care setting provides an excellent career opportunity for nurses, long-term care is not often the setting of choice for student nurse clinical experiences or employment as graduate nurses. From direct patient care to managing and leading staff, nurses are the backbone of the long-term care workforce, and are essential to quality resident care. The demand for excellent nurse leaders and services providers will only grow in the coming decade.
This summit is intended to bring nursing students, long-term care employers and nurse education programs together to:
• Learn about the role of nurses in long-term care settings
• Understand barriers/challenges for students, nursing programs and employers
• Identify gaps in nursing education for long-term care patients and their needs
• Identify strategies to quickly change the focus of the nursing education and increase long-term care experiences
• Identify strategies to address the stigma of working in long-term care settings
• Identify methods to recruit and retain quality nursing workforce to long-term care settings
• Develop a work plan to enhance clinical placement opportunities for student nurses, enhance the educational experience for students, and strengthen and expand capacity for long-term care nurse training in Washington.
Where: This meeting will be held by ZOOM. The agenda and link will be available as we get closer to the date of the event. For more information, please contact Paula Meyer.