Growing the Wisconsin Nursing Workforce
Growing the nursing workforce. Last week, UW Health’s first Nursing Apprenticeship Program cohort began their third year of the program. As part of UW Health’s ongoing commitment to addressing the nursing workforce shortage, the health system has partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and Madison College to create one of the nation’s first registered nurse apprenticeships.
The four-year program provides a no-cost pathway for current UW Health employees to pursue a degree in nursing while earning full-time pay and benefits. The program includes both formal classroom learning at Madison College and the UW Health Apprenticeship Program Building, as well as on-the-job training at UW Health.
The apprentices will be taking advantage of opportunities to grow within the program like as a nurse extern next summer and the chance to sit for their LPN boards and transition into that role for their last year of schooling.
After an apprentice completes the program and successfully passes the NCLEX exam, they will participate in the UW Health Nurse Residency Program and transition into their new roles at UW Health.
A new group of apprentices will start later this year. In August, we will have a total of 48 students in various stages of the program.
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We’re currently seeking an individual to lead and mentor apprentices. Visit https://ow.ly/pX6E50W1JVN to learn more about becoming an RN Apprenticeship Program Clinical Instructor (RN required).
