Use variety of ways to educate staff on issues
When educating front line staff members, it is best to use a combination of methods, says Denise C. Myers, RN, MS, CNAA, CPHRM, director of risk management at Monongalia Health System in Morgantown, WV.
She uses presentations, positive and negative feedback, computer communications, informational brochures, and a lot of person-to-person contact. The in-person contact happens during patient safety rounds, orientation sessions, and visits with the staff. Myers also stresses that her open door policy is crucial to encouraging communication with all staff. Any staff member from any department is welcome to walk into her office and discuss risk management concerns.
She uses a combination of mandatory teaching sessions and less formal interaction with staff. She conducts a risk management lecture at least once a year and requires key staff members to attend, and she has created a videotape library of herself and others speaking on risk management issues.
She also provides staff with educational brochures on risk management issues, as well as posters, an internal newsletter, and a "cheat sheet" for preparing for surveys by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The cheat sheet is a handy way for staff to keep track of key issues that will be important in the survey, such as that year's patient safety goals. For the 2005 goals, Myers used the acronym "SPECIAL," reminding staff that because patients are special, everyone must focus on:
- Stopping falls;
- ensuring the safety of infusion Pumps;
- removing concentrated Electrolytes from patient care units;
- improving Communication among caregivers;
- verifying Identification of patients;
- standardizing a list of do-not-use Abbreviations for medications;
- Listening carefully as others "read back" verbal orders.
The cheat sheet is folded into thirds so that it can be carried and accessed easily when staff are questioned as part of survey preparation.
"We wanted them to have something handy they could pull out of their pocket if someone walks up to them and asks them to name one of this year's patient safety goals," she says. "It keeps it on their mind and lets them know we'll do what we can to help them learn these things."
When educating front line staff members, it is best to use a combination of methods, says Denise C. Myers, RN, MS, CNAA, CPHRM, director of risk management at Monongalia Health System in Morgantown, WV.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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