Fellowship, Preceptor Models Support Recruitment Efforts

To improve recruitment and retention, Kootenai Health in Cour d’Alene, Idaho, in 2020 offered a nurse fellowship to experienced nurses transitioning into critical care with no experience in the specialty. The organization then expanded the program to novice nurses, who were attracted to the program’s structure. When the organization had a shortage of preceptors, it used an experienced nurse who remained at the bedside and oversaw up to three preceptees as each worked alongside a primary nurse. This tripled the rate of hiring and training, while also retaining experienced nurses at the bedside.