Internship Helps Former Nurses Re-Enter Profession
The Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association in Ventura County is offering an internship program designed to help former nurses re-enter the profession, the Ventura County Star reports.
The Accelerated Home Care R.N. Internship Program seeks to reduce an increasing shortage of nurses. The first class of six students completed the course last year, and a second group of six students began the internship in June.
The program is a part-time, 16-week paid internship that allows former nurses to update their clinical skills and train with a mentor nurse to work in a hospice or home care setting.
Livingston recently received $50,000 to help offset program costs from the county's share of annual tobacco lawsuit settlement payments.
Eligible participants must have a current nursing license and must commit to working at least part time for one year as a hospice or home care nurse after they complete the internship.
The field of home care nursing is among the fastest growing in health care as hospital stays grow shorter.
Lanyard Dial, Livingston's president and CEO, said the agency plans to offer the re-entry internship once or twice annually, depending on demand and funding (Klampe, Ventura County Star, 7/18).