title: Back-to-basics boot camp: an innovative approach to competency assessment.
abstract: Competency is the foundation for safe and quality patient care; therefore, assessment must include evaluation based on defined criteria beyond just following a checklist or grading a posttest. The challenge for nurse educators is devising strategies for the staff to demonstrate skills and critical thinking while accommodating various work schedules and time restrictions. This article will describe an innovative themed program that incorporates communication, teamwork, and fun into competency assessment. This technique allows for the tailoring of validation to the needs of the individual and the team.
authors.affiliation: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Dallas, TX, USA. lkubin@tx.rr.com
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kubin
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fogg
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation