Workforce Development Research Articles (Page 1)

Monitoring strategies after the incorporation of vaccines into national immunization programs: a systematic review.

To explore how chief nursing officers perceive and enact their leadership within bureaucratic healthcare systems, with a particular focus on patient safety, strategic responsibilities and the advancement of nursing care quality. A qualitative study design was used. Semistructured interviews were conducted between October 2023 and May 2024 with nine female Chief Nursing Officers, representing diverse regional healthcare settings across Sweden. The interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, which was informed by the theory of bureaucratic caring to support interpretation. Chief nursing officers described navigating hierarchical and bureaucratic systems while promoting person-centred care and professional governance. Their work involved balancing strategic mandates with ethical imperatives, advocating for workforce development and fostering a culture of proactive safety. The analysis generated four interrelated themes: (1) grappling with complexity and power structures; (2) guided by ethics, compassion and purpose; (3) empowering the nursing workforce to provide improved care; and (4) shaping quality care through innovation, evidence and technology. Chief Nursing Officers can act as key agents of transformation at the intersection of structure and care. Their leadership extends beyond administrative functions to encompass strategic influence, ethical advocacy and system-level improvement. The findings underscore the need to further formalise and institutionalise the role, ensuring it is equipped with the mandate and structures required to lead across organisational levels. Strengthening such roles calls for leadership models that foster collaboration, support shared governance and enable flatter organisational hierarchies-structures designed to enhance participation, distribute decision-making and promote professional autonomy. This study followed reporting standards for qualitative research by adhering to the EQUATOR Network guidelines and using the COREQ checklist. Only health care staff participated in this study. This study highlights the strategic, ethical and relational dimensions of chief nursing officers' leadership and its impact on patient safety, quality improvement and workforce development. The findings demonstrate that they can play a pivotal role in embedding ethical perspectives into healthcare leadership-bridging professional nursing values with structural and strategic priorities. This underscores the importance of enabling nurses to shape care systems in ways that promote safety, professional governance and person-centredness.

Public health professionals frequently engage with residents of rural Georgia to conduct needs-based initiatives, which aim to identify deficiencies and shortcomings in community health. However, this process can exacerbate existing stereotypes and lead community members to feel a sense of despair in their own communities. The Community Health Resource Project (CHRP) offers a counterbalance through a strengths-based approach by highlighting animal, plant, human, and environmental resources, or “One Health” assets, that currently exist in the community. CHRP begins by analyzing publicly available county-level data to gain an initial understanding of the health landscape before proceeding to the field. Next, the team engages in Participatory Asset Mapping (PAM) to gather community-driven qualitative insights on existing One Health assets in participating rural or underserved counties. Data gathered from community engagement strategies inform the development of comprehensive county-specific asset maps and reports. This paper describes the methods of applying a strengths-based approach to highlight community One Health-related assets. These strategies can be a valuable tool for developing targeted workforce development efforts in resource-limited counties for the benefit of all species.

Background: India is facing an acute shortage of surgeons across specialities, necessitating a critical review of surgical training within Ayurveda education. Both undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) Ayurveda curricula include surgical components, with PG students earning an MS (Ayurveda) degree. However, this qualification remains marginalised under the ambiguous label of ‘Ayurvedic Surgery’, which isolates the Ayurvedic surgeons from the mainstream and thus limits their recognition and impact. Rationale: India’s rich surgical heritage, documented in the Sushruta Samhita as early as 1500 bce , is globally acknowledged. Yet, this historical legacy alone certainly does not justify maintaining a separate and suboptimal surgical domain under Ayurveda in the 21st century. At the same time, with approximately 330 Ayurvedic surgeons trained annually, although the number is small, it is important to expand the numbers after upgrading the training of surgeons and ensuring they play a role in the world of Indian and global surgeons. This is especially important in the context of the current surgeon deficit. Discussion: This review advocates for a pragmatic, evidence-based approach to surgical education. Rather than preserving rigid boundaries, it recommends revalidating relevant surgical practices from Ayurveda and integrating them into mainstream medicine. A 10-year roadmap must be developed to build contemporary surgical infrastructure and skilled workforce development. India’s surgical practice must move beyond cultural and disciplinary silos to develop a unified, globally relevant model of surgical education. Such an approach would not only honour the country’s historical contributions but also help meet pressing healthcare needs, shaping the future of Indian surgical practice.

The U.S. Emergency Medical Service (EMS) system faces persistent workforce shortages. Thousands of military personnel transition out of service each year with EMS-related training, yet little is known about their roles or willingness to pursue civilian EMS careers. Despite low national unemployment rates among veterans, many remain underutilized in healthcare occupations. We aim to describe the current roles of nationally certified military EMS clinicians and assess their interest in transitioning to civilian EMS employment. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of National Registry-certified EMS clinicians actively serving in the U.S. military. Respondents recertifying between October 2021 and April 2022 were invited to complete a voluntary, one-time survey. The analytic sample included military-affiliated clinicians aged 18-85 who reported an EMS job role and responded to a question about interest in civilian EMS transition. Descriptive statistics multivariable Poisson regression with robust standard errors were used to characterize EMS roles and identify factors associated with transition interest. Referent groups for categorical variables were selected based on the subgroup with the largest number of respondents. Among 1,937 included respondents, the median age was 32 years (interquartile range: 27-40), and most were male (66.6%) and White, non-Hispanic (58.3%). Respondents represented all major military branches, with the largest proportion from the Air Force (60.3%). Most held emergency medical technician certification (82.5%). Overall, 60.5% expressed interest in civilian EMS employment after separation. Transition interest was highest among clinicians in the Army (prevalence ratio: 1.23; 95% confidence interval: 1.11-1.36), Navy (1.31; 1.17-1.45), and Coast Guard (1.13; 1.01-1.27) compared to the Air Force. Those in educational or non-traditional roles had higher prevalence of interest than those in hospital-based roles, while older clinicians had significantly lower prevalence of interest. Findings from this convenience sample suggest that a substantial portion of military EMS clinicians, particularly younger personnel and those affiliated with the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard, may be interested in transitioning to civilian EMS roles. While not representative of all military EMS personnel, these patterns highlight the potential utility of structured veteran-to-civilian EMS pathways. Future research using more representative sampling strategies is needed to confirm these trends and inform workforce development efforts.

The implementation of local content policies in Saudi Arabian construction projects is a key strategy for economic diversification, workforce development, and industrial self-sufficiency under Vision 2030. This study evaluates the awareness, adoption, challenges, and impact of local content policies among government officials, consultants, and contractors using quantitative analysis of survey data from 82 respondents. Findings indicate that while 85% of stakeholders are aware of local content policies, only 15% of firms source more than 50% of their materials locally, with high costs, regulatory constraints, and supply chain inefficiencies being the most significant barriers. Chi-square tests and cross-tabulation analysis reveal a strong correlation between experience levels and local content adoption, with more experienced professionals demonstrating higher engagement in local procurement and workforce development. Despite these challenges, local content policies have shown positive economic and employment impacts, particularly in job creation and project efficiency. The study recommends regulatory reforms, targeted training programs, financial incentives, and enhanced stakeholder collaboration to increase local participation in the construction industry. Strengthening policy enforcement, supply chain networks, and workforce capabilities will be essential to achieving Saudi Arabia’s long-term localization goals and maximizing the benefits of local content integration.

Background: Faculty burnout in allied healthcare education institutions represents a significant challenge with implications for educational quality, organizational effectiveness, and healthcare workforce development. This scoping review aims to map the existing literature on the relationships between leadership approaches, faculty personality factors, and burnout within allied healthcare education, while examining digital competence as a potential moderating factor. Methods: This scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Five electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) were searched for relevant studies published between 2010 and 2024. Studies examining burnout among allied healthcare educators in relation to leadership, personality traits, or digital competence were included. Data extraction captured study characteristics, methodological approaches, key findings, and theoretical frameworks. Quality assessment was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Existing research indicates significant relationships between leadership styles and faculty burnout rates, with transformational leadership consistently associated with lower burnout scores. The literature reveals that individual personality traits demonstrate significant relationships with burnout vulnerability, with emotional stability and extraversion showing the strongest protective effects. Limited research has examined digital competence in relation to burnout, though emerging evidence suggests it may function as a moderating factor. Significant gaps exist in non-Western contexts and in understanding interaction effects between leadership, personality, and digital competence. Conclusions: The current literature supports the importance of leadership approaches that emphasize collaboration, faculty autonomy, recognition, and professional development opportunities in protecting against burnout in allied healthcare education settings. Digital competence represents a promising but understudied job resource that may mitigate burnout effects. Future research should explore cross-cultural variations, interaction effects between personal and organizational factors, and the effectiveness of interventions in reducing faculty burnout.

This paper provides an in-depth synthesis of Malaysia’s human resource development (HRD) strategies, highlighting their role in promoting productivity enhancement and supporting the nation’s transition toward a high-income economy. Malaysia has placed HRD at the centre of its economic planning through the 12th Malaysia Plan, the MyDIGITAL blueprint, and other policy initiatives. However, challenges remain in addressing the persistent issues of skill mismatch, limited TVET participation, talent mobility, and inclusivity in workforce development. Drawing from literature published between 2018 and 2023, supplemented by foundational studies that capture Malaysia’s HRD evolution, this review analyses the alignment between HRD policies, institutional mechanisms, and productivity performance. It proposes a conceptual framework that links HRD challenges, policy enablers, and productivity outcomes. The framework demonstrates how human capital development contributes to innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable economic upgrading. The paper concludes with policy recommendations and a research agenda focusing on HRD–productivity linkages, coordination mechanisms, and longitudinal policy evaluation.

Purpose This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research trends at the intersection of Industry 4.0, circular economy, and human resource management (HRM). Design/methodology/approach This study analyzes 693 documents from 2019 to 2024 using a bibliometric approach, including performance, citation, keyword co-occurrence, thematic mapping and trend topic analysis, highlighting a sharp rise in research driven by digital transformation and sustainability. Findings We demonstrate that Industry 4.0 and circular economy practices are well-established, while HRM's role in supporting them is emerging. The role of HRM practices like digital skills, green HRM, and leadership in enabling sustainability is underexplored. The analysis highlights gaps in workforce development for digital and sustainable transformations and the importance of global collaboration. Practical implications Theoretically, the study integrates HRM into Industry 4.0 and Circular Economy frameworks; practically, it guides organizations, policymakers and educators in developing workforce competencies, green HRM practices and leadership skills for sustainable digital transformation. Originality/value This is the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis integrating Industry 4.0, Circular Economy and HRM. Unlike earlier work focused on technology or operations, it highlights HRM's emerging role in digital and sustainable transformation. The study offers an integrated roadmap for future interdisciplinary research connecting technology, sustainability and human capital development.

Introduction: Effectively training healthcare professionals for complex elderly care is vital but often hindered by simulation costs. This project demonstrates a high-impact, low-fidelity simulation escape room designed for interprofessional groups of urgent care practitioners (nurses, paramedics). We aimed to enhance critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving by focusing on accessible, engaging pedagogical design incorporating gamification [1] and Visual, Aural, Read/Write, Kinesthetic (VARK) principles, demonstrating impact and creativity within resource constraints. Methods: A structured design process, involving subject matter experts (SME), aligned escape room puzzles with elderly care learning objectives (falls, medication, psychological assessment). The design intentionally integrated VARK learning styles and gamification principles to maximise engagement. AI tools aided development-phase scenario refinement. This low-fidelity simulation was implemented with nurse and paramedic participants undertaking a minor illness course between September 2024 and April 2025. A mixed-methods evaluation used pre/post questionnaires primarily assessing confidence and preparedness, alongside qualitative feedback exploring the learning experience and impact on collaboration. Data was collected in March 2025. Results: The low-fidelity, design-centric approach proved highly effective. Quantitative data confirmed uniformly high participant engagement (rated 4 or 5/5). Qualitative feedback revealed the simulation was highly enjoyable compared to traditional methods, with participants particularly valuing the problem-solving aspects inherent in the gamified design. Participants reported significant increases in confidence managing complex elderly care scenarios, with 75% stating they felt more prepared to manage elderly falls patients’ post-simulation. Further qualitative data suggested increased confidence in applying key concepts and skills, alongside improved interdisciplinary communication, teamwork, and appreciation for collaborative problem-solving, directly addressing cultural aspects of healthcare teams. Discussion: This study confirms that impactful simulation, fostering creativity and cultural competence in healthcare teams, does not necessitate high-fidelity setups. By prioritising robust pedagogical design (VARK, gamification) and co-production principles (SME collaboration), effective, engaging, and accessible low-fidelity simulations can be developed. The strong positive outcomes related to participant engagement, confidence, self-reported preparedness for practice, and improved teamwork and communication [2] demonstrate the simulation’s value. This pilot provides a scalable, resource-conscious model for interprofessional workforce development in specialized areas like elderly care. Ongoing refinement based on feedback continues. This approach strongly aligns with the need for creative, co-produced simulations that deliver measurable impact Ethics Statement: As the submitting author, I can confirm that all relevant ethical standards of research and dissemination have been met. Additionally, I can confirm that the necessary ethical approval has been obtained, where applicable.

Introduction: Simulation plays a crucial role in healthcare by providing a controlled and risk-free environment for training, education, quality improvement, innovation and research. Funding is often required to support the resources needed including; faculty, equipment and/or technology, venues, scenarios and administrative support, amongst others to develop, establish and sustain the delivery of simulation activity. There is a need to clearly articulate the requirements, benefits and cost effectiveness of simulation to justify and secure investment. Additionally, there is a need to foster organisational ownership and buy in to help sustain simulation. Yet funding for this type of learning activity is finite and understanding and justifying costs can be challenging [1]. Methods: The Health Education Improvement Wales (HEIW) Simulation team hold a strategic, facilitatory and supportive role to the diverse multiprofessional simulation community across healthcare in Wales. Frequently the team are asked how and where funding can be sourced to support the development of simulation activity, as well as what rationale can be provided within any business case to justify any expenditure required. Results: In response, the HEIW team undertook a scoping review to determine potential funding sources external to the organisation that can be applied to/accessed by the simulation community across healthcare in Wales to support a range of simulation activity. A guidance document was developed providing a list of the identified potential sources as well as guidance on how to identify other potential sources of funding. In addition, a narrative was developed based on a literature review of the benefits and impact of simulation activity, that could be used to support the development of a business case in application of funding for the use of simulation. The narrative articulates the advantages of simulation in terms of staff development, patient safety, enhancing procedural skills, clinical decision-making, collaboration, teamwork and communication, alongside fostering innovation and quality improvement [2,3]. In particular, it emphasises the importance of simulation as an essential tool for workforce development and operational efficiency. Discussion: Funding may be crucial for some simulation projects as it allows the financing of a range of potential resources that may not already be available. Yet, to gain funding there needs to be an informed and detailed rationale demonstrating the significant value and impact of simulation. Ethics Statement: As the submitting author, I can confirm that all relevant ethical standards of research and dissemination have been met. Additionally, I can confirm that the necessary ethical approval has been obtained, where applicable

The Data Innovation, Program Implementation, and Community Action (DIPICA) Observatory for Surgical, Anesthesia, and Obstetric (SAO) Care in India convened in December 2024 in New Delhi. This two-day program brought together experts from global surgery, public health, health policy, and clinical practice to address planned challenges in SAO care, focusing on data-driven approaches, sustainable financing, and workforce development. The discussions emphasized leveraging data to strengthen SAO care systems by creating practical data products for localized planning and community engagement. Participants advocated for dynamic observatories to support data-driven research and policy implementation, making SAO care more accessible and efficient. Sustainable financing emerged as a key focus, with experts discussing innovative approaches that move beyond conventional models. Community-based solutions, decentralized funding, and performance-based models were discussed as strategies to optimize resource allocation. Establishing partnerships involving government, private, and community sectors was highlighted as crucial for achieving financial sustainability, particularly in underserved areas. Workforce development discussions addressed competency-based training and task-sharing initiatives to reduce disparities. The attendees agreed on the need for structured training to enhance surgical skills, especially for general practitioners in rural areas. Regulatory policies on task-sharing and task-shifting were considered essential to maintaining care quality while expanding access. Improving trauma care and emergency response through targeted training and rural workforce retention also remained key priorities. Advocacy efforts focused on integrating SAO care into national health priorities through data-driven communication and public engagement. The observatory aims to sustain progress through collaborative research, advocacy, and policy dialogues to ensure equitable, accessible, and high-quality SAO care across India.

Background The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) recommends that colleges help prepare students for their careers through the utilization of core competencies. These competencies involve experiential learning approaches, fostering civic and community engagement, and communication skills. Purpose The purpose of this project is to examine the components of experiential learning activities that help prepare students for the workforce and which activities students find most engaging. Method This research utilizes a transverse study approach to determine student perceptions of career readiness, activities that help with workforce development, and students’ perceived impact of experiential learning programs. Students across multiple disciplines partaking in a myriad of experiential learning activities were surveyed. Findings The study's findings offer actionable insights for higher education administrators and educators, providing guidance on how to enhance experiential learning programs and improve their effectiveness in preparing students for successful careers. Implications The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how experiential learning programs function and their effects on student perceptions of high-impact practices, which is crucial for shaping future educational policies.

School nurses play a crucial role in promoting health and well-being within school communities. Their responsibilities include direct patient care, care management, health teaching, disease prevention, and mental health treatment. As the point of entry into the health-care system for children and families, school nurses address the full spectrum of health needs, and their roles are critical to student success. To increase exposure to school nursing and provide hands-on experience for nursing students, a deliberate internship was instituted for the 2021-2022 academic year. A qualitative evaluation of the intern's narratives examined the impact of the program, and the findings illustrated the power of experiential learning to foster interns' knowledge of school nursing. The 2024 School Nursing Practice Framework led interns in direct care, chronic disease management, and health promotion. These experiences reinforced the role of school nurses in facilitating public health and student well-being. This project underscores the importance of integrating school nursing internships into nursing education to expand the nursing workforce and prepare graduates for comprehensive health care. Policymakers must invest in school nurse workforce development, fund school health programs, and offer incentives for careers in school nursing. Strengthening these efforts establishes health equity and enhances student success, demonstrating the value of community-based, practice-informed nursing education.

The rapid growth of Chinese outbound tourism has significantly impacted the hospitality industry in Southeast Asia, particularly in Luang Prabang, Laos a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its cultural and natural attractions. This study investigates the increasing demand for Chinese-speaking staff in Luang Prabang’s guesthouse and hotel sector, driven by the rising influx of Chinese tourists. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines qualitative interviews with hospitality stakeholders and quantitative surveys of Chinese-speaking tourists to analyze trends, challenges, and implications for the local workforce. Findings reveal a substantial demand for bilingual staff, with hotel and guesthouse managers emphasizing the importance of Chinese-speaking employees in enhancing customer satisfaction and service quality. However, challenges such as a shortage of qualified candidates, limited access to language training, and financial constraints particularly among smaller establishments hinder the sector’s ability to meet this demand. Survey results indicate that a large proportion of Chinese tourists prefer accommodations with Chinese-speaking staff, and their satisfaction levels are significantly higher when served by such employees compared to non-Chinese-speaking staff. The study highlights the critical role of language proficiency in improving guest experiences and fostering repeat business. It also underscores the need for workforce development initiatives, including government-supported language training programs and partnerships with educational institutions, to address staffing shortages. The findings align with global tourism trends that increasingly prioritize multilingual staff to cater to international travelers. Overall, this research provides valuable insights for policymakers and industry practitioners, emphasizing the importance of adapting to the linguistic and cultural needs of a diverse clientele to ensure the sustainable growth of Luang Prabang’s tourism sector.

ABSTRACT This review offers a novel and integrated synthesis of the role played by Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in advancing green skills development, focusing on emerging economies. This domain remains insufficiently explored in the current literature. Drawing on bibliometric, qualitative, and engagement‐based methodologies, the study investigates the evolving landscape of DFI‐supported workforce initiatives aimed at fostering climate‐responsive industrial transformation. The review is grounded in a systematic analysis of literature retrieved from ScienceDirect and Scopus (2014–2024) databases. It employs tools such as VOSviewer, MAXQDA, and Python to map citation networks, keyword trends, and public engagement patterns. Key findings reveal fragmented scholarly engagement, emerging thematic concentrations such as climate finance and the circular economy, and persistent sectoral gaps in green skills training. The analysis underscores the collaborative potential of DFIs, the private sector, and educational institutions in aligning workforce development with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 13 (Climate Action). As global sustainability priorities intensify, the urgency of equipping the workforce with relevant green competencies has become increasingly apparent. DFIs offer both financial and strategic support for capacity‐building programmes that promote renewable energy expertise, green technology innovation, and resilience in climate‐vulnerable sectors. However, challenges persist, including constrained financing, limited programme continuity, and the absence of standardised curricula. It concludes by advocating for enhanced cross‐sectoral collaboration and real‐time feedback mechanisms between DFIs, training institutions, and industries. Future research should prioritise the long‐term evaluation of DFI‐backed green skills initiatives, particularly their impact on labour market transformation and sustainable economic development.

Genomic sequencing technologies, which include both exome and genome sequencing, as well as panels or targeted analyses using genome-wide approaches, are being implemented across healthcare. Implementation, however, varies greatly by application and jurisdiction, with a diversity of approaches being employed around the world. This reviewaims to summarise the current state of implementation of genomic testing in mainstream healthcare for the detection of rare disease throughout the lifespan. Through a discussion of evidence gathered to date, highlighting exemplar studies, the following applications of genomic testing will be covered: (1) routine diagnostic genomic testing in the clinic; (2) rapid diagnostic genomic testing in the intensive care unit; (3) genomic newborn screening; and, (4) reproductive genetic carrier screening. Mainstream implementation necessarily extends beyond the clinical genetics service, where genomic testing has historically been offered. Given that the involvement of non-genetics clinicians in the delivery of these technologies has important implications for models of care and education, related areas of growing evidence are also discussed: (5) genetic counsellors working outside clinical genetics services; and, (6) workforce development considerations for mainstream genomics. The diversity of approaches and examples illustrates that integration of genomic technologies into mainstream healthcare is complex and requires significant health system transformation. Efforts to evaluate services, guided by implementation science, will be essential to ensure lessons are shared across jurisdictions and benefit is delivered to patients and the system at-large.

Celebrating five decades of pediatric nursing progress: Achievements, persistent challenges and future directions.

The effect of teachers' work engagement on burnout - an analysis of the mediation effect of professional identity.

Exploring child abuse and neglect responses: Qualitative insights from oral health practitioners in Aotearoa New Zealand.