Conway Nursing Pathway Program

The Conway Nursing Pathway Program helps aspiring nurses establish rewarding careers in pediatric nursing. Existing nurses participating in the program deepen their career satisfaction through mentorship, professional development and advanced study. As a result, more children benefit from competent and compassionate care — provided by experienced, exceptional nurses who love their work.

The Conway Program offer participants, known as pathfinders:

Career preparation experiences, such as summer work for high school students — particularly those from under-resourced backgrounds;
Scholarships;
A one-on-one nurse mentoring relationship; and
The opportunity to become a pediatric nurse and a chance to thrive within the profession.

Overcoming Challenges to Nurse Retention

The nursing profession faces a triple threat. Three distinct factors drive an acute nursing shortage:

An aging workforce retiring in greater numbers
Upheaval related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Burnout among nurses who quit to pursue another career

As the need for engaged talented pediatric nurses increases, Children’s National Hospital is more intentional in supporting transition-to-practice opportunities like the Conway Nursing Pathway Program.

The Pathway Program is a place where aspiring and existing nurses can launch or advance their careers. It accomplishes this through a mixture of financial support, hands-on experience and face-to-face connection with a supportive community and mentorship.

The Pathway Program is a safe port in this storm — a place where Children’s National is pioneering a new model of recruitment and retention that leads to lasting, beneficial careers.

"The speed of change within the nursing profession is unprecedented," says Linda Talley, MS, RN, NE-BC, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. "The Conway Nursing Pathway Program helps us stay nimble and engage with the dynamic changes we face."

Focus

To recruit new nurses, the Conway Program focuses on high school students, college students who have selected nursing as their major and nursing majors in associate degree programs committed to baccalaureate education. To retain exceptional nurses, the program helps existing Children’s National employees advance their studies and professional skills through scholarships and mentorship.

"Relationships are the differentiator and the foundation of this program, which fosters belonging, diversity, equity and inclusion," says Mourine Evans, MS, RN, who directs the Pathway Program. "The strength of the program can be seen in the outcomes," she adds.

Goals

We strive to:

Address the growing nursing shortage through innovative solutions that will recruit and retain nurses;
Stimulate a passion for careers in pediatric nursing through early experiences that demonstrate the rewards;
Sustain engagement and career satisfaction for existing nurses; and
Reduce participants’ financial burden without creating debt for those in the recruitment or the retention groups.

Requirements and Timeline

Pathfinders and mentors must be able to meet all program requirements. Pathfinder orientation dates and times will vary. Additional orientation and/or program requirements may be required depending on each pathfinder’s entry level and/or role. Pathfinders may also be eligible for part-time employment at Children’s National if applicable.

Mentors will need to commit to serving as a mentor based on program requirements, and may serve between two and four years in this role.