Education & Distance Learning Enthusiasts- Vermont recognized nationally as one of six exemplary grant sites

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Vermont recognized nationally as one of six exemplary grant sites - Vermont in Focus

Healthcare Review - March 19, 2002

Early in 2001, the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS) signed an agreement with the Vermont Department of Employment and Training (DET) to offer Specialty Nurse Training in Critical Care Nursing and Operating Room Nursing. The training is paid for with $1.5 million received as part of a federal grant (H1B) submitted by DET on behalf of the Human Resource Investment Council of Vermont and approximately $2 million in matching funds from Vermont hospitals.

The H1B grant funds are available for training US citizens and legal residents in industries which have been using foreign workers. To date, 150 grants have been awarded nationally. Vermont is one of six sites being recognized as exemplary.

The courses involve classroom and distance learning instruction and an extensive clinical experience. Faculty from Fletcher Allen Health Care (FAHC) provides the instructional portion of the two courses on the UVM and FAHC campuses. The clinical experience takes place at each nurse intern's sponsoring hospital. The programs are available to nurses employed at all Vermont community hospitals and the Veteran's Administration Hospital.

The unique characteristic of the Vermont Specialty Nurse Training programs that sets the VAHHS project apart from other H1B federal grant participants is its preceptor training. In addition to the curriculum, which is based on national standards, this is a formalized program that trains the preceptors who mentor interns during their clinical experience.

While the concept of a nursing preceptor may not be a new one, the formal training is. The Vermont Nursing Internship Project designed the preceptor training. It is a statewide program resulting, from collaboration among Vermont nursing educators, practitioners and regulators. The program trains nurses in the skills necessary to educate adult learners and assist them in applying the classroom knowledge to the clinical setting. The preceptor supports the intern during the 600-720 hour clinical experience at the local hospital The outcome of this process is a competent specialty nurse who can comfortably take on full responsibility for patients in a much shorter time. Anecdotal evidence indicates that nurses who have experienced this nurturing learning environment are retained longer by the hospitals employing them.

Vermont nurses interested in this training should contact their local hospital nursing department.

For more information, contact Julie Tonks. (802) 223-3461.

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