Using innovative models in transition to practice and Master's Entry programs to teach ambulatory and primary care nursing.

With advancements in health care and changes in reimbursement that contribute to shorter hospitalizations, health care delivery is increasingly shifting to other settings to include skilled nursing, home care, and outpatient areas. There is a well-documented shortage of hospital-based capacity for clinical placements in California. The need for clinical placements is creating an opportunity to utilize ambulatory care settings as innovative alternative learning experiences for prelicensure nursing students.

Collaborative academic-practice transition program for new graduate RNs in community settings: lessons learned.

In 2010-2011, leaders from California academic and practice settings and additional community partners collaboratively developed four 12- to 16-week transition programs for 345 new registered nurse (RN) graduates who had not yet found employment as nurses. Program goals were to increase participants' confidence, competence, and employability and expand the employment landscape to nontraditional new graduate settings. One program focused exclusively on community-based settings and was completed by 40 participants at clinics and school sites; all participants secured RN jobs.