Session: Recruitment, retention strategies target perioperative workforce of the future

Editor's Note

Between 2025 and 2029, US college enrollment is expected to drop by 15%, reflecting a decline in the perceived value of college and a rise in trade careers. Alongside other educational challenges and what Stephanie Woods, PhD, RN, referred to as the “demographic cliff”—rising death rates, slowing birth rates, baby boomer retirement—this trend is leading to a drop in nursing program enrollments. As Dean of Nursing College at Texas Woman's University, Woods offered insight into evidence-based practices designed to support nursing students from the classroom to the OR.

Specifically, Woods advocated for enhancing competency-based education, urging the assembled nurse leaders to shift focus from pass rates on exams like the NCLEX—which, due to grade inflation and other issues often do not indicate true competency—in favor of clinical preparedness. Competency-based education emphasizes mastery through repeated practice, empowering students to refine skills in safe, supportive environments.“If anybody owns competency-based education its perioperative nursing,” she told the audience. “You have the backbone and the structure to be able to do it.”

Among other developments related to competency-based education, Woods highlighted how new accreditation requirements form the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) mandate CBE focused on specific domains, such as population health, informatics, and professionalism. “What is nice about this is that for the first time ever, we should be able to back up and look at what nursing schools are putting out, and the product should be very similar,” she said. “That's never happened in the history of nursing education. It will take a while before you’ll … really start seeing the differences, but hopefully you will start to have less variability across schools that are accredited by AACN.”

Pipeline development was another critical focus of the session. Woods highlighted programs promoting dual credit in high school allow students to complete nursing prerequisites early, positioning them to enter nursing programs by age 18. She urged healthcare institutions to invest in scholarships, clinical placements, and even paid clinical hours to attract and retain nursing students. She also explored collaboration between schools and healthcare employers, such as the development of  perioperative electives courses that provide early exposure to surgical roles and foster interest in this specialty. Woods also recommended tailored residency programs to bridge the education-practice gap, emphasizing that new nurses require structured, hands-on learning experiences with minimal rotation for optimal skill acquisition and retention.