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Recommended Citation
Hildebrand C, Otto M. Student Nurse Cafe: Filling Your Cup. Professional Development poster presented at Transforming Practice: The Intersection of Technology and Nursing Excellence; Advocate Health Nursing Research and Professional Development Conference 2025; November 12, 2025; Virtual.
Presentation Notes
Professional Development poster presented at Transforming Practice: The Intersection of Technology and Nursing Excellence; Advocate Health Nursing Research and Professional Development Conference 2025; November 12, 2025; Virtual.
Abstract
Background
The national nursing shortage was identified as a crisis by many organizations including the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Healthcare organizations must work to creatively engage and support our incoming nursing workforce by providing meaningful resources that enable recruitment and retention into the nursing profession (Swinton et al., 2024; Rosseter, 2020).
Purpose
Nursing students often run out of caffeine and feel depleted and unsupported (Burleson et al., 2023). They are often not committed to a healthcare organization outside of their clinical rotation. In alignment with the organization’s strategic goal around investing in the next-generation workforce, we wanted to connect these students with our organization.
Methods
Inspired by the success of creating supportive programming for newly hired nurses, a novel student offering was developed for students to establish pathways and partnerships to enrich their student experience and encourage students to join the organization. The Nursing Student Café offered multimodal engagement and participation opportunities. This one-hour, every semester, virtual educational offering focused on topics identified and prioritized by the nursing students. The invitation went to all nursing schools who had students within our organization.
Findings
Students attended from both Midwest states. Surveys from the pilot revealed 100% of participants strongly agreed that the cafe was helpful and would consider attending a future session. 17% of participants currently worked for the organization and planned to continue and 58% of those who didn’t expressed interest in future employment.
Conclusions
By providing student-centric offerings, the cafe increases student satisfaction and potentially recruitment, which creates a significant return on investment. The cafe is sustainable as the foundational work has been completed. By utilizing feedback from students, interest in future sessions ensures attendance and word of mouth promotion. Future considerations include expanding the cafe brand by offering in-person sessions, recorded webinars, and complementary CE offerings.
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
11-12-2025
Student Nurse Cafe: Filling Your Cup
Background
The national nursing shortage was identified as a crisis by many organizations including the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Healthcare organizations must work to creatively engage and support our incoming nursing workforce by providing meaningful resources that enable recruitment and retention into the nursing profession (Swinton et al., 2024; Rosseter, 2020).
Purpose
Nursing students often run out of caffeine and feel depleted and unsupported (Burleson et al., 2023). They are often not committed to a healthcare organization outside of their clinical rotation. In alignment with the organization’s strategic goal around investing in the next-generation workforce, we wanted to connect these students with our organization.
Methods
Inspired by the success of creating supportive programming for newly hired nurses, a novel student offering was developed for students to establish pathways and partnerships to enrich their student experience and encourage students to join the organization. The Nursing Student Café offered multimodal engagement and participation opportunities. This one-hour, every semester, virtual educational offering focused on topics identified and prioritized by the nursing students. The invitation went to all nursing schools who had students within our organization.
Findings
Students attended from both Midwest states. Surveys from the pilot revealed 100% of participants strongly agreed that the cafe was helpful and would consider attending a future session. 17% of participants currently worked for the organization and planned to continue and 58% of those who didn’t expressed interest in future employment.
Conclusions
By providing student-centric offerings, the cafe increases student satisfaction and potentially recruitment, which creates a significant return on investment. The cafe is sustainable as the foundational work has been completed. By utilizing feedback from students, interest in future sessions ensures attendance and word of mouth promotion. Future considerations include expanding the cafe brand by offering in-person sessions, recorded webinars, and complementary CE offerings.
Affiliations
Nursing Education and Professional Development