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Posted June 10, 2016

The Power of Nurse Leader Boot Camps

By Jill Ellis, RN, BSN, MHSA

Understanding alignment of goals and the actions required to achieve goals are not automatic skills for new or emerging leaders. In healthcare, many managers and supervisors move up the ranks because they are a good technician or clinician. Often times, however, they have not been prepped for the roles they are accepting. On-the-job training becomes a necessity, but can be challenging when new leaders are required to perform the responsibilities and learn them at the same time.

At Studer Group, we have found that it may take repetition of learnings in numerous environments to find the right fit for training. We also know that time is of the essence to get the new leader trained. One solution can be a form of training that is a bit more intensive and rigorous than your typical skill development session. It is a process that is situational to help leaders become an expert in their area in a short period of time. This insight shares how one organization that partners with Studer Group was able to improve results across multiple departments utilizing Nurse Leader Boot Camps.

The Why Behind Nurse Leader Boot Camps – During our regular meetings, department leaders and I recognized some variance in HCAHPS results across departments. Some leaders were hitting their goals and excelling in certain areas, while other department results lagged behind. We started by asking the following questions: What are the highly weighted goals of the leaders? What are their current results, ranked best to worst, and how do they compare? What differentiates one leader’s performance from others?

What the Boot Camp Process Looks Like – Six to seven leaders were chosen and vetted through the CNO to participate in a concentrated skills building boot camp. Each leader was given one tactic or focus area and tasked with completing a 15-minute presentation to teach the group the “why, what and how” of the tactic and report the results their department has achieved. After the presentation, leaders in the room were asked to give feedback. The feedback portion is designed to offer new leaders insight into the execution of these evidence based practices, and gain new ideas to move results in their area. It also provides seasoned leaders with feedback on how well they understand the tactics and can connect to the “why.” The tactics chosen were:

  • Rounding on Staff
  • Nurse Leader Rounding
  • Coaching and Feedback
  • Hourly Rounding®/ AIDET®
  • Bedside Shift Report/ AIDET®
  • Use of Patient communication boards

How Nurse Leader Boot Camps Helped – After just one Nurse Leader Boot Camp, results in multiple units’ HCAHPS outcomes improved as indicated below.

Type of Unit Quarter 1 – training occurred Quarter 2 – post training
Med Surg 63.2% top box
10th %tile
76% top box
68th %tile
IICU 57.7% top box
3rd %tile
73% top box
54th %tile
Tele 71% top box
35th %tile
80% top box
80th %tile
Tele 66.7% top box
19th %tile
77% top box
69th %tile
Med 68.4% top box
24th %tile
76% top box
65th %tile

After the first Nurse Leader Boot Camp held in the first quarter, 90 percent of participating units saw improvements in results by the second quarter. By the third quarter, 100 percent of participating units achieved improved results. Results were enhanced by holding leaders accountable and accelerated further as each leader’s “one-up” hardwired the process of reviewing the Must Haves® quantity and quality each month, including celebrating successes each month/quarter.

Nurse Leader Boot Camps can be performed as either half-day or full-day trainings. Once all leaders present, a short break can be taken so leaders can make changes in their presentation and then leaders present the information again. What we find is leaders become more comfortable with the tactic and have built in new ideas they learned from the feedback portion. It also builds confidence in leaders to then present the findings back to their unit.

A final tip: Ask leaders to complete a pre-assessment of their skill level in each area you are looking to improve. Then, after the boot camp, ask leaders to complete a post-assessment to gauge effectiveness and skill development.

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