By Amy Curtis | March 2025
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In this issue: Pre-licensure apprenticeship program launches in Kansas, new resources for the geriatric workforce available.
This newsletter is 1,395 words long, about a 5-minute read.
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Apprenticeships for Pre-Licensure Nursing Students Launches
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HCA Midwest Health announced the launch of the first in the region and first in Kansas pre-licensure nurse apprenticeship program.
The program is designed to train skilled nurses and address growing demand. The program is based at Overland Park Regional Medical Center and Menorah Medical Center. It provides nursing students with hands-on experience and comprehensive training while they earn income and receive employee benefits.
The Nurse Apprenticeship Program was developed over three years as part of a collaboration between the Kansas Hospital Association, Hamilton-Ryker TalentGro, the Kansas Board of Nursing and multiple agencies and departments within the State of Kansas.
At the completion of the program, student nurses will receive a national credential from the Department of Commerce.
To be eligible, students must:
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- Be currently enrolled and in good standing in a registered nurse program at an accredited school of nursing
- Complete a Nursing Fundamentals course
- Complete 1+ years of nursing school, or as mandated by state of practice is preferred
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Live in the State of Kansas
- Attend a nursing program approved by the Kansas Board of Nursing
- Be a High School Graduate / hold a GED
- Obtain Basic Cardiac Life Support certification within 30 days of employment start date
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In an HCA press release, Kansas Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said, “Today marks another milestone as we celebrate the launch of our state’s first pre-licensure Nurse Apprenticeship Program. This program has the power to transform our nursing workforce and set a new standard for how Kansas nurses teach and mentor the next generation of aspiring Kansas nurses.”
Thought bubble: There are many educational pathways into nursing. The RN nurse apprenticeship gives nursing students one more way to complete their degree and has the potential to reduce financial burdens of education.
Watch a video from the program launch.
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State of Nursing in Kansas 2024 Report Key Finding: Education
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In the 2022 National Council of State Boards of Nursing survey, Kansas Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) self-reported their first nursing degree.
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For Kansas RNs, a baccalaureate degree was most commonly reported as the first nursing degree (45.2%) followed by an associate degree (33.2%).
- Kansas RNs (10.8%) also reported that they started their nursing career with an LPN or LVN certificate which was significantly higher than the national sample (5.5%).
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For Kansas LPNs/LVNs, a vocational/practical certificate was most commonly reported as the first nursing education (77.4%) followed by an associate degree (14.4%).
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Celebrating Women’s History Month: Libby Rosen
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Congratulations to Libby Rosen, PhD, RN, Dean, Baker University School of Nursing, Stormont Vail campus and Kansas Nursing Workforce Center Advisory Board member!
Libby was featured in a recent news segment for Women’s History Month.
Watch here.
| Catch Up Quick: March Research Committee Meeting
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Watch a recording of the March Research Committee meeting where Teri Kennedy, PhD, MSW, ACSW, FGSA, FNAP, Project Director and Principal Investigator, KU School of Nursing, about the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP)*, a five-year HRSA award to the University of Kansas School of Nursing to educate and train the primary care and geriatrics workforces.
Next month we will hear from Karen Weis, PhD, RNC-OB, FAAN, Christine A. Hartley Rural Nursing Professor, Interim Salina Campus Dean, University of Kansas School of Nursing, on Access to Maternity Care in Kansas.
Led by Shin Hye Park, PhD, RN, the Research Committee, facilitates and promotes collaborative nurse research activities across the state. The committee's goal is to leverage research talent to better serve the healthcare community of Kansas, advance the field of nursing and healthcare and strengthen the nursing workforce in Kansas.
The next scheduled meeting is April 24, 2025 from 10-11 a.m.
You can sign up here to receive the Research Committee meeting link. Please send to colleagues who may also wish to attend.
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New Resources for the Geriatric Workforce
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Kansas 4M Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) is offering several learning opportunities for Kansas nursing facility and long-term care staff and administration, nurses, advanced practice clinicians, physicians, and behavioral health clinicians.
Pro tip: Need a primer on the Kansas 4M GWEP? See the March Research Committee meeting recording link above. ☝️
Read on for details about the new resources for you…👇
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Get educated: 4M Speaker Series
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As the Kansa population ages, it is important that nurses and other health care workers stay up to date on evidence-based best practices for care.
The Kansas 4M 2025 ECHO speaker series will educate nursing facility and long-term care staff and administration, nurses, advanced practice clinicians, physicians, and behavioral health clinicians about an Age-Friendly Health Systems Framework to the care of nursing home residents and nursing care of older adults.
Referred to as the 4Ms, this model entails reliably providing a set of four evidence-based elements of high-quality care to all older adults in your care:
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- What Matters
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Medications
- Mentation
- Mobility
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Alice Bonner, PhD, APRN, FAAN, FAANP, Senior Advisor for Aging, Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), will offer a case-based example of applying the evidence-based 4Ms to the care of nursing home residents on April 16, 2025. This event will be presented online.
Future Webinar Topics
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Application of an Evidence-Based 4Ms Framework to the Care of Nursing Home Residents
- Leveraging Telepractice to Support 4Ms Care of Nursing Home Residents
- End-of-Life 4Ms Care for Nursing Home Residents: Addressing the Needs of Residents, Families, and Nursing Home Staff
- Applying the 4Ms to the 3Ds: Delirium, Depression, and Dementia
- Applying the 4Ms in Respectful Communications with Older Adults
- Deprescribing Antipsychotic Medications
- Applying the 4Ms in Chronic Care Management
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Save the Date: Age-Friendly Nursing Workforce Forum
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The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center, in conjunction with the Kansas 4M GWEP is convening nursing educators and long-term care leaders to partner to increase the number of nursing graduates who choose to practice in nursing homes.
Kansas Age-Friendly Forum Details
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- June 9, 2025 from 10a.m. to 2p.m.
- Washburn Tech Conference Center, Topeka, KS
- A virtual attendance option is available.
- Lunch is provided.
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Continuing education credit is offered as appropriate. Instructions for credit or a certificate of attendance will be provided at the event.
- For additional information, contact NursingWill@kumc.edu.
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*Kansas 4M Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The award provided 100% of total costs and totaled $5 million with funding from 07/01/2024 through 06/30/2029. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information visit HRSA.gov.
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Webinar Recording: Leveraging the Data to Guide Decisions for a Strong Nursing Workforce
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Watch a recording of webinar session 2, Leveraging the Data to Guide Decisions for a Strong Nursing Workforce, Educators and Program Directors. Free CE credit is available.
Session 2 shared scenarios and strategies to help educators, program directors, and policy advocates choose the best information from the State of Nursing in Kansas report to support change or advocate for the nursing workforce. More information here.
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This month we spent time in Topeka at the Kansas Board of Nursing and with the Kansas Council of Associate Degree Nurse Educators (KCADNE) and Kansas Council of Practical Nursing Educators (KCPNE). The wisdom and information shared by these groups of nurses and nurse educators is invaluable, especially paired with our second road trip of the month…
We traveled to Manhattan for the spring HOSA leadership conference. Being around the future health care workforce was a joy. The insights these students share are invaluable as we help you plan for the future nursing workforce.
We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: The future of nursing in Kansas is bright.
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—Barbara MacArthur and Amy Garcia
Kansas Nursing Workforce Center
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Helpful Resources and Links
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Webinar series: Leveraging the Data to Guide Decisions for a Strong Nursing Workforce
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Have Kansas Nursing Workforce news, solutions, or kudos you’d like us to share?
Email nursingwill@kumc.edu
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