title: Improving Staff Satisfaction Through Peer-Led Professional Development.
abstract: Nurses in a community gastroenterology hospital and associated clinic in Waterloo, Iowa are expected to earn and maintain specialty certification. Barriers to staff recertification were identified as workshop availability, cost, and access. Limited evidence was available to determine whether education provided by staff at a unit level could be used to reduce or eliminate the identified barriers. An educational plan was developed to provide peer-led education sessions. A pilot program of three presentations delivered a total of 6.4 educational contact hours. Efficacy was measured by acceptance of delivered continuing education units/contact hours for recertification by the American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses. Satisfaction with the method of delivery, costs, and timing were evaluated with prepilot/postpilot surveys. The program continues as an ongoing part of the department's orientation and education plan. The aim of this pilot study was to explore whether education could be provided economically, by existing staff, and within working hours to meet the requirements of recertification and improve staff satisfaction. The pilot study demonstrates that peer-to-peer education can be provided on a unit level, meeting and advancing individual and institutional certification goals for best practices and patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Sandra Gardner, MSN, MS, RN, CPAN, is Nursing Faculty, Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, Iowa.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002568:Certification; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D007484:Iowa; D010379:Peer Group; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects