Filling the Gaps: Immersing Student Nurses in Specialty Nursing and Professional Associations
Anna N. Vioral, MSN, MEd, RN, OCN
Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing
September 2011 - Volume 42 · Issue 9: 415-420
DOI: 10.3928/00220124-20110601-01
Abstract
The national nursing shortage demands innovative strategies to attract students to the nursing profession. This article provides
a potential solution for recruiting and retaining nurses for specialty areas of nursing as well as professional nursing associations
by pairing student nurses with professional nurses who belong to nursing associations. An immersion program such as the one
described in this article provides a strategy that addresses the nursing work force shortage and professional association
membership. The experiential knowledge gained through this type of program may advance the profession throughout the country.
Ms. Vioral is Oncology Quality Coordinator, West Penn Allegheny Health System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The author discloses that she has no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly
or indirectly in this activity. This project was funded by a grant provided to the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation.
The author thanks Dr. Teresa Shellenbarger for critically reviewing the manuscript and the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation,
Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society, and GPC-ONS volunteers for their support in the execution of this
program.
Address correspondence to Anna N. Vioral, MSN, MEd, RN, OCN, Oncology Quality Coordinator, West Penn Allegheny Health System,
320 East North Avenue, 5th Floor Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. E-mail: avioral@wpahs.org.
Received: January 11, 2011
Accepted: May 12, 2011
Posted Online: June 08, 2011