Chart: Obstacles on the Educational Pathway for Nurses

Amy Wilson, the chief nurse executive at SSM Health, has identified three major hurdles that are affecting the nursing education to practice pipeline. These barriers are crucial for Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) to address in order to ensure the sustainability of the nursing industry.

The first hurdle is recruiting a sufficient number of nursing students. Access to nursing schools is a challenge that contributes to gaps in the pipeline. CNOs, in addition to recruiting and retaining nurses, are tasked with building education pipelines that increase the number of nurses entering the industry.

The second hurdle is retaining nursing students throughout their education. This is the second hurdle in the nursing education pipeline, as identified by Amy Wilson. Workforce shortage is one of the main barriers affecting the nursing education to practice pipeline, making it essential to retain students to meet the industry's demand.

The third hurdle is facilitating a smooth transition from nursing education to practice. Difficulties during the transition to practice pose a problem for maintaining the nursing education to practice pipeline.

To improve the nursing education flow, CNOs must consider three important institutions or organizations. These include nursing education institutions (such as vocational schools and training centers), healthcare providers like hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, and regulatory or professional bodies that set standards and recognition policies for nursing qualifications. Examples of these organizations are educational partners like maxQ. Greifswald, medical rehabilitation facilities advocating to conduct nursing training, and overarching organizations like the German Hospital Association and the German Nursing Council that influence training policies and funding.

Addressing these barriers is crucial for CNOs to ensure the sustainability of the nursing industry. The nursing education pipeline from school to workforce is a critical focus for CNOs, as multiple roadblocks hinder the pipeline, as Amy Wilson has pointed out.