Speakers
Description
Trillium Health Partners’ Clinical Resource Team (CRT) comprises healthcare professionals
dedicated to advancing practice excellence. This team implements best practices organization wide, serving as a pivotal resource for early-career healthcare professionals to develop
foundational knowledge and skills.
In 2023, the CRT faced challenges including staff vacancies, inconsistent support for specialty
areas, and a lack of standardized processes for workforce development. Following a
comprehensive program evaluation, strategic recommendations were implemented to foster
growth and development within the CRT. Focused efforts successfully stabilized staffing
incorporating innovative recruitment strategies such as CRT-specific career fairs and a focus on
hiring Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN). Establishing a robust talent pipeline, we created
clinical pathways to support the transition of learners and clinical externs into nursing roles.
Further we supported CRT staff interested in specialty areas through facilitating education and
training in critical care, emergency and oncology.
To support career progression, a dedicated database was developed to map career paths for
CRT nursing staff. Regular stay interviews became standard practice to ensure ongoing
engagement and retention. Additionally, we fostered clinical practice excellence with targeted
skills sessions and the Transition to Independent Practice Support (TIPS) program, alongside
career development through charge nurse and preceptor training.
As a result of these strategies, we reduced our overall staff vacancy by 48%, along with 90% of
IEN, clinical externs and learners successfully transitioned to regulated roles, and a 100%
retention rate among first-year nursing hires. Furthermore, CRT’s sick time rates are notably
lower than both the organizational and provincial averages. CRT has met team needs,
leveraging the CRT platform to build clinical knowledge and skills, thereby fostering a stronger
team that advances practice excellence across the organization.
Keywords
staffing, talent pipeline, clinical pathways,
Author(s) Credentials and Title
Desa Dlugosz, RN, BScN, MN, Manager Professional Practice, Workforce Planning & Transition to Practice
Asha Ahmed, RN, BsCN, MN, Clinical Educator Clinical Resource Team, Credit Valley Hospital
Dr. Charissa Cordon, RN, MN, EdD, CHE, Director Professional Practice & Clinical Resource Team
Lorena Lopez, RN, BScN, MN, Professional Practice Clinical Educator & TIPS Facilitator
Nancy Elford, RN, MN, Manager Clinical Resource Team, Mississauga Hospital
Sarah Telfer, RN, BScN, MN, Clinical Educator Clinical Resource Team, Mississauga Hospital
Suzanne Nevers, MHS, PT, Manager Clinical Resource Team, Credit Valley Hospital
What RNAO BPG or tool/toolkit is this work related to:
Leading Change Toolkit
Developing and Sustaining Safe, Effective Staffing and Workload Practices Best Practice Guidelines
| Organization Name | Trillium Health Partners |
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