Promoting positive pediatric experiences for nursing students at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Bagay, J.M.
Pediatric Nursing 40(3): 148-149; 154
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 0097-9805 PMID: 25134230 Document Number: 671796
Challenges in professional nursing education today can be astonishing. Cognizant of the commitment to provide the most valuable learning experiences for our future nurses, academia and service organizations strive to meet this challenge. The escalation in nursing school enrollment, along with the increase in patient acuity and ongoing health care changes, requires hospitals and schools to continually review their practices to ensure positive outcomes. Providing pediatric nursing experiences to over 1,300 students annually, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) implemented a process to meet this need. A Faculty Advisory Council was established to provide a venue for representative nursing instructors to meet with the Nursing Education Department at the hospital. The commonality of focus by nursing faculty and Children's Hospital continues to strengthen both academia and service. This well-defined process supports positive pediatric experiences for nursing students at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPCM.