ABSTRACT
The requirement to verify and ensure the competency of staff members to perform their assigned duties is here to stay. This article describes a model for decision making about competency assessment frequency. Implementation of the model should be accompanied by a systematic review of learning needs and performance improvement data. Education sessions designed to address identified learning needs or to support performance improvement activities should occur before or concurrent with competency assessment. The result is a cost-effective, efficient use of resources to accomplish the goal of ongoing assessment and improvement of staff competency. When staff member competency improves, the likelihood of a positive patient outcome increases. Our model provides a structured, defensible mechanism to link competency assessment with improvements in patient care quality.
Subject(s)
Clinical Competence , Decision Support Systems, Management , Employee Performance Appraisal , Perioperative Nursing/standards , Risk Management/methods , Decision Support Techniques , Georgia , Humans , Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations , Models, Organizational , Perioperative Nursing/classification , Perioperative Nursing/education , Reproducibility of Results , Risk , Surgical EquipmentABSTRACT
The demand for expanded knowledge and accountability in critical care nursing has increased the need for qualified critical care nurses and is tempered by requirements that their preparation be cost-effective. The Emory University School of Nursing (EUSN) has pioneered in meeting this challenge. Since June 1988, a Critical Care Consortium consisting of the EUSN and Emory-affiliated hospitals has been operational, providing uniform critical care education to multiple hospital nursing staffs. Instructional resources are being economically utilized, eliminating duplication of efforts. This collaboration between academic and service settings enhances productivity, quality patient care, professional growth, and promotes significantly greater interinstitutional cohesiveness.
Subject(s)
Critical Care , Education, Nursing, Continuing , Curriculum , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Faculty, Nursing , GeorgiaABSTRACT
The purpose of this descriptive study was to obtain information concerning rates of intravascular infection in patients with central lines and to identify the variables related to nursing care of these lines that may influence the development of systemic infection. The study was conducted at a large southern teaching hospital during a 6-week period. The sample for this study consisted of adult inpatients who underwent central-line insertions. The results suggested that careful nursing observations, combined with early recognition and intervention, can significantly influence a positive patient outcome.
