A new accelerated bachelor of science for nursing is putting students on the fast track to careers, while also offering them a tantalizing taste of work in often overlooked long-term care settings.
Run in collaboration with WesleyLife, the Drake University program is a direct response to ongoing nursing shortages — and a stepping stone for students to build key industry skills.
“Students work alongside experienced team members who serve as preceptors, guiding them through the clinical experience with training, coaching and feedback,” Ann Head, MSN, RN, clinical educator and CNA training program coordinator for WesleyLife, told McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. “In addition to gaining experience in skilled nursing, students have the chance to explore other care settings like assisted living, home health and hospice.”
WesleyLife is no stranger to partnering up. Five years ago, it teamed up with Genesis Health System to build a new senior housing organization and new facilities in the Midwest.
Now, its collaboration with Drake isn’t focused on only creating skilled nurses but also on building leadership pathways.
“It’s part of a broader collaboration that has included leadership development opportunities, intergenerational programming and support of our Meals on Wheels and hydroponic garden initiatives,” Krista Van Hooser-Perin, PhD, director of organizational learning for WesleyLife, told McKnight’s Long-Term Care.
It all started when Drake University’s nursing program director and former direct care worker Mary Owens reached out to Head and Van Hooser-Perin.
Her goal? To spearhead real-world, clinical opportunities for her students.
“This partnership is important because it gives students exposure to our unique person-directed, hospitality-centered approach to care,” Head said. “It also helps us build a pipeline of future healthcare professionals, ensuring a steady flow of new skilled workers as our team members retire.”
It’s a relationship of give and take. Drake supplies WesleyLife with eager, much needed talent, and WesleyLife informs Drake of any missed opportunities and educational lapses.
“We’ve discussed offering CNA training since they currently don’t have their own CNA program,” Van Hooser-Perin said. “We also provide feedback on skill gaps that we notice in recent graduates, helping schools refine their programs, while they help us improve the student experience on our end.”
Graduation is the technical signal of a successful nursing program, but witnessing students achieve that “light-bulb” moment when classroom training collides with real-world care is also one, Head says.
“The relationships they build with our residents are a highlight. Students see firsthand the deep meaning and purpose in their work, while our residents feel a sense of pride knowing they’re investing in the next generation of nurses,” Head said.
“It’s a shared experience that creates lasting bonds and reinforces the value of this career path for everyone involved,” Van Hooser-Perin said.
