How to develop a competency-based head nurse orientation program.
The ability to effectively and efficiently develop competent head nurses is a major challenge in today's health care environment. Memorial Hospital of South Bend, IN, a 526-bed tertiary care facility, faced this challenge. As a result, a program was developed that reduced the learning time of newly appointed head nurses. Mentoring and hands-on practical learning strategies were used. This article describes (1) the reasons for developing a competency-based head nurse orientation program, (2) the steps necessary for its implementation, (3) the benefits of such a program, and (4) the results of the program at Memorial Hospital.
D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003479:Curriculum; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D007196:Indiana; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory; D010559:Personnel Management; D010934:Planning Techniques; D013192:Staff Development