New Grads... Is Anyone Addressing The Issue?

Mcubed:
You wrote, "training new grads is expensive and no one has money to spare right now."

Exactly my point. Does anyone think outside the box?

I've seen programs on the mainland where student nurses work their final semester training at the facility of their choice. The nursing school has connections with 10 different hospitals. The student chooses one department at one hospital. And, it's not like the student is bounced around, spending 2 weeks on each floor, not really learning how to do one job, and do it well. The student works 20-30-40 hours/week at one facility, working on one floor only, learning, learning, learning about that one department.

At the end of the semester, the student knows the hospital's rules, knows the doctors and other nurses on one floor, knows the policies and procedures, knows the expectations for that one floor. She finishes the semester, takes her NCLEX, and is usually hired immediately. The charge nurses love it because they know who they're getting.

It's basically an internship. The student is not paid while learning, so the hospital doesn't pay an hourly wage, doesn't pay a salary, and doesn't pay benefits. It's a transition between school & the work place.

Is any school doing anything like that? Lemme know. Lisa ;-)