Preparing the Next Generation of Perioperative Nurses

Perioperative nursing faces a workforce crisis. There are too few perioperative nurses entering the workforce to replace those who will reach retirement age. Further, the costs of orienting perioperative nurses is high, and turnover rates in the first year after graduation are significant. To address these issues, nursing leaders at Theda Clark Medical Center, Neenah, Wisconsin, and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Nursing partnered with local medical centers to form a precepted clinical immersion program intended to orient senior baccalaureate nursing students to the perioperative setting. The students were hired after graduation, and the cost savings for orienting each new employee was estimated at $16,000 to $25,000 per student. Other benefits include identifying students who are and are not a good fit for perioperative nursing. The collaboration of health care and academic leaders is one solution for addressing the perioperative nursing workforce crisis.