The key areas of this center are practice and practice improvement. Again, nursing practice is interpreted broadly to include administration and education. The education and administration that is nursing work is focused on nursing care delivery, preparing nurses to do care delivery or facilitating the work of nurses via administration.

The scope of responsibility for the Professional Practice Center is as follows:

• Recruitment and retention of RNs in care delivery
• Recruitment and retention of nurse faculty
• On-site and conference based practice enhancement consultation within and external to the geographic region

The main priority for the work of all centers is quality nursing care in west central Ohio. The assumption underlying this priority is that the work environment must support maximizing nurses’ expertise.

A supportive work environment is critical for nurses keeping their social contract with the people they serve.

The work of the Professional Practice Center will include the following functions:

• Serve as a central clearinghouse for initiatives in recruitment and retention of nurses into care delivery and faculty positions (R&R of RNs)
• Develop retreats for nurses to explore career enhancement opportunities
• Develop pilot projects regarding R&R of RNs, for example:
• Physical environment (layout, sound, lighting…)
• Work relationships with other health care professionals
• Working arrangements (hours, retirement, shared governance…)
• Work support (auxiliary workers, information support…)
• Personal support (daycare, after-school care, banking….)
• Develop pilot projects regarding R&R of nurse faculty, for example:
• Faculty practice
• Summer employment
• Support for nurses seeking doctoral education
• Formal and continuing education (CE) teaching methods programs
• Develop projects including clinical trials for practice improvement
• Hold retreats for nurses to explore and enhance their careers, e.g. nurses changing career focus (Medical surgical to pediatric or hospital to nursing home)
• Support continuing education for nurses, including:
• Serve as a clearinghouse for all continuing education events in area for RNs
• Hold continuing education events for RNs
• Pilot skill and knowledge development activities

The activities of the Professional Practice Center will substantially enhance nursing care delivery, nursing education, and nursing administration.