I need to give a Professionalism Inservice

[Noney]

I'm wondering if I can pick your minds. I need to do an inservice on professionalism. It is to be one hour long and is geared towards nursing assistants in a hospital setting. I don't expect the size of the audience to be more then 10.

Any suggestions? I don't want you to do the work for me, just some rough ideas or reference sites.

Thanks in advance.

Noney

[ceecel.dee, MSN, RN]

Originally posted by renerian

Sometimes I think aides feel they are not important but what we all do is important to the success of the team. No one is more imporant than the other.

renerian [/b]

To take renerian's teamwork theme just a bit further, the fact that they, indeed, are working under an RN's license and that the RN's are the delegators, really help in the establishment of who should be reported to, who manages the shift, who should be talking to the families about patient progress, diagnosis and/or prognosis.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

One of the best talks on this subject I ever gave had two of us role playing. I was dressed as the "traditional" nurse white shoes stockings cap cape the works and a friend was dressed in a purple and gold sweater with earings and make-up and gum. We brought the house down!! Gave the audience a list of criteria for professionals and had them comment.

[indie]

I'd give a very brief intro to the subject and the sort of areas of practice and personal life it might be thought to encompass.

I'd then break the group into about 2-3 sets of people (do not let the group choose their own sub-groups, but you mix them up). Give each group a scenario or a few questions to answer/discuss to which they need to write down the answers - note form is fine. Be very clear and write down what you want each sub group to achieve.

Get the groups back together at least half an hour before end of session to present their findings to the whole group. You'll need to work very hard to keep them on target and allow each group equal time to present the basics. Do not allow time to overrun as you will need to recap - use board to consolidate the areas of professional practice and to fill in any gaps left out.

People remember what you involve them in producing.

I once used this approach with below average 12 year olds on the difficult topic of community services - a long session. I got them designing a small town from scratch - they had a large board and some props and material to make further props. They forgot nothing with subtle prompting during their discussions - water, food supply, sewage etc. etc.

At the end, one politely told me that I had not taught them - that they had worked it out themselves. It was my proudest moment in teaching and their self-esteem glowed.

I hope you have time to prep this session beautifully as this sort of teaching stretches you and you will glow at the end of it. Good Luck

[zambezi, BSN, RN]

Lots of good ideas here. I think that speaking to the CNAs as professionals is important. After all, they are part of the team and, as a team, we want to be professional (Even if the designated role of the CNA is not considered "professional"). Stress the importance of a CNA. Everyone wants to be made to feel important and valuable (as CNAs are...), not like a handmaiden to the RN. RN/LPNs/and CNAs work together, it is more efficient and more fun. Talk about professional attitudes, "on-stage" and "off-stage" behaviors and conversation, dress, etc. Ask them what they think makes them professional, a good team member, etc. Make your time a constructive learning atmosphere, with lots of converstion and interaction. Good luck, I am sure that you will do well. :)

[SmilingBluEyes]

You say your audience is NA/CNA's right? Well this is just my opinion and I mean you no insult but.....

role-playing seems a tad bit sophomoric for adult learners in the nursing profession in some capacity already.....

Role-playing games just would not reach me as an adult learner. I prefer the "tell it like it is " approach....but that is just me .

I wish you luck w/your project!

[dianah, ASN]

Good suggestions and food for thought, all.

I personally dislike the classes where one is handed a well-organized, full packet of data/info, and a presenter stands up and proceeds to READ THE ENTIRE PACKET, word for word!!!

That said, thank you for soliciting different ideas and using your imagination to present your subject. I like the idea of role-playing or using props (your messy-hair-to-neat-professional) to illustrate the point(s), ----- but then again, I'm very visual-oriented.

Let us know how it goes, Noney, and good luck! -- D

[Noney]

Thanks everyone for the input. I have a few weeks to plan this. Right now I'm brainstorming.

Noney

[Gardengal]

I would go with the definition of professional and what it means....and go from there, as in fulfillingthe role of one trained in a particular profession and demonstrating the behaviors consistent with the profession.

I would stress the importance of the role of a nursing assistant in the cmfort and hygiene care of patients, and how those efforts allow the nurses to do the more clinical, but no less important pieces of the work.

In order to teach professionalism we need to tech pride in the job the person does. In order to do that you need to define what that role and level of importance is in your organization.

Ask your attendees what professionalism is.....then be prepared to respond. Discuss public opinions of appearance and behaviors which, while OK out of work in a social environment might be ok, might be offensive or pleasing to the clientele.

I found when I did this talk years ago with a group of nursing assistants that when I highlighted what they came up with as the professional behaviors, I could ask them and have them promise to commit to these behaviors. One of the "rules" of a profession is standards and a code of conduct. Have them think about a code after giving them a baseline.

If your NAs are certified-as I assume they are since you referred to them as CNAs, highight the fact that they are certified and that certification is a public recognition of a knowledge base. There is a standard to live up to. Remind them of that certification as something to be proud of and to portray at all times.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes

You say your audience is NA/CNA's right? Well this is just my opinion and I mean you no insult but.....

role-playing seems a tad bit sophomoric for adult learners in the nursing profession in some capacity already.....

Role-playing games just would not reach me as an adult learner. I prefer the "tell it like it is " approach....but that is just me .

I wish you luck w/your project!

It depends on how it is done Deb. Some role plays are gagable but if you look at education theory and the three main domains of teaching - Cognitive, Affective and Psychomotor - the Affective Domain (attitude) is best altered/ taught by interactive modes of teaching and that includes role play, discussion, debate etc. What we did was half role play and half team teaching - extremely interactive and FUN! Blew the audience ( a group of post grad nurse educators away!)

[Audreyfay]

How about some video clips from soaps and TV programs that portray "nursing professionalism." It would make an interesting discussion about what is thought is professionalism, and what it really is!