Ensuring a competent nursing workforce in essential care areas such as intensive care units (ICUs) and emergency departments (EDs) is a national priority. Traditional training programs often lack a systematic framework that integrates both educational design and organizational change. The Gonzalo model, which combines Kotter’s eight-step change management process with Kern’s six-step curriculum development framework, offers a structured approach to guide innovation and implementation. This study developed and evaluated an essential nursing workforce training system using the Kotter–Kern Gonzalo framework. A standardized program, integrating competency-based education for new ICU and ED nurses with a faculty development program for dedicated nurse educators, was implemented across 52 institutions. Surveys assessed satisfaction, competence, and willingness to recommend, and focus group discussions (FGDs) with managers and educators explored challenges and strategies. Results showed that 97.3% of managers and 100% of educators would recommend the program. Educators reported a 3.5-fold increase in competence measured by Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), and new nurses demonstrated improvements in knowledge, adaptation, and independent practice. FGDs confirmed program strengths such as standardized resources and EPA-based assessment, while identifying challenges including resource limitations and the need for clearer evaluation criteria. The Kotter–Kern Gonzalo framework effectively guided the development and dissemination of an essential nursing workforce training system, yielding positive outcomes and offering strategies for policy-level improvement.

Authors:
Heui-Kyeong Kwon, Seoul National University Hospital, South Korea
Eunkyung Bang, Seoul National University Hospital, South Korea
Eunyoung Park, Seoul National University Hospital, South Korea
Yuseon Jang, Seoul National University Hospital, South Korea
Soyoung Lee, Seoul National University Hospital, South Korea

About the Presenter(s)
Heui-Kyeong Kwon is the Director of the Clinical Nursing Education Team at Seoul National University Hospital. She is highly interested in transitional care, transitional to practice program, and research on dedicated Clinical Nurse Educator.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule

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