Nursing Talent Retention Initiative

U-M HS Tackles Need for Nurses

05/24/2007

In 2005 the University of Michigan Health System in collaboration
with U-M School of Nursing was awarded a three year grant from HRSA to impact nursing retention via professional development.  The grant was ambitious and set out to offer a variety of professional development initiatives. 

Two of the more significant objectives included the development of an on-site BSN program, (classes available within the hospital), and to sponsor the creation and opening of a full-service nursing career development center. 

The Center for Professional Development & Mentoring, (CPDM), was opened in November of 2006 and has already served over 150 nurses and student nurses.  This center is unique to Michigan and the grater nursing profession as it provides many career development services including one-to-one career coaching with a Nursing Career Coach, mentor matching, a career self-assessment program developed specifically for nurses as well as general information on resume writing, interviewing and nursing career paths.

This initiative represents the following aspects that make this a truly unique opportunity:

1.  An example of academic, (U-M School of Nursing), and institutional, (U-M HS), forces coming together to solve local, state and national issues of nursing shortages.

2.  Though still early in our *observation* period we are seeing nurses who have been out of the job market come to us as this seems to be one of the few venues set up to advise them in their profession and to build their confidences to again pursue employment as a nurse.

3.  Retention of talent is a hot topic in the state of Michigan, and
given that nursing has the added burden of a *scarcity* of nursing
personnel, (due to current and projected nursing shortages), the center may be uniquely poised to be a front-line intervention for the loss of top nursing talent.  This obviously has not only local but state-wide implications as well. 

We are closely monitoring the trends that emerge from this opportunity and convergence of retention issues, and are excited at the implications of providing professional development through this HRSA sponsored grant. 

If you would like to see the facility and learn more about the services currently provided, please feel free to visit our web site: www.NursingCareerDevelopment.com

The Center for Professional Development & Mentorship is supported in part through a federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), DHHS.  Grant#: D65HP05254 2005-2008
Margaret Calarco, PhD, RN - Principal Investigator

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For More Information Contact:
Marietta Van Buhler - Research Program Manager

University of Michigan Health System - Nursing Administration Center for Professional Development & Mentoring