Competency "Fair"

[maryen]

I would like some feedback as to if I am being unreasonable or not. One of the agency I work for(1 shift per week) has decided to change how they do yearly employee evaluations/competency review. Instead of being checked off yearly by managing RN at clients home yearly, they want to hold an one time per year in office Competence and Review Fair. It will be 2 1/2 hours long and we transition from station to station and get "checked off". I really do not have a problem with it although I think it is really just a way to cut cost and I think the one on one review with RN is invaluable to improving skill and pt. care. My issue is that they called me this AM and expect me to come in on the 9th or 10th of next month. My schedule is full on both those days working for another agency and family obligations. I told them it would not be possible for me to attend and asked that other arrangements be made and told them I would be happy to come in next year for it with at least 3 weeks notice. In addition I just had my competency review in May with my staff RN. The office was not happy with me at all when I refused to come in. Do you think I am being unreasonable? How much advance notice does your agency give when requiring training/reviews that must be done in office?

[RN/Mom]

I don't have a ton of home health experience, but I do work at a hospital that tests our skills through written tests and hands-on demonstration. We are required to take and pass all of the skills tests in order to retain employment, so if we refused we would be terminated. They give us about 3 months notice of our scheduled competency date so that we have time to review the written materials (it's usually a lot). They also offer practice skills tests in the month prior for even more review.

I think the answer to your question depends on 1) the amount of material they are expecting you to study/review in the next two weeks, and 2) what happens if you fail. If it's more than just a couple of skills and/or your job is on the line if you don't pass, then I agree with you that they should give you more time. Plus, it seems really rude of them to expect you to change your schedule for any reason with only two weeks notice.

[maryen]

hmm.. Thank you lvnmum. I did not even think to ask what the skills test would be and what would happen where I to not pass. Guess I better find out;)

[paradiseboundRN]

At my previous job we called this a "skills fair". It didn't have anything to do with your yearly evaluation. It was just a way to get everyone check-offed on skills annually in a timely fashion. We would usually get about 1 months notice of the event. Before hand, they would give us some information to study and each subject had a post-test for you take and turn in the day of the fair. No one failed. The managers would walk you through any skills that you were unsure of. The skills were things like handwashing, using a kangaroo pump, performing a TUG test and wound vac dressing change. The skills would vary year to year. The fair was held for 2 days. I'm not sure what happened if someone was unable to do it on those days. I suppose the managers could find way for the nurse to make it up and the nurse could do the written part. Are you sure that this fair isn't that same thing? Maybe it doesn't have anything to do with your yearly eval.

[maryen]

Here is a copy of the flyer they just emailed me.

Healthcare Services strives to provide the highest quality of care and excellence to our patients in all that we do. This includes being sure our nurses are trained to the best of our ability. In this spirit the Healthcare office is excited to announce the:

1st Annual XXXXX Competency Fair!

Gone are the days of having to schedule a competency with your Clinical Supervisor on the anniversary of your date of hire. From now on all annual competencies will be completed at the skills fair, which means you won't need another competency until next year's fair. Because of this all nurses employed by Healthcare Services in xxx are required to attend The Annual Competency Fair EVERY year to remain ACTIVE. It is MANDATORY to attend one of the days listed below. Please call the office and schedule your desired block of time on one of these days ASAP. Time slots will fill up quickly, and preferred time slots are given on a first come first serve basis.

1st Annual Competency Fair

October 10th, 2012 (8am-6pm) & October 11th, 2012 (8am-4pm)

"Conference room D on the Second Floor"

Parking at the event will be paid by Healthcare Services

Please allot 2 ½ hours to circulate through all of the competency stations. You can choose a 2 ½ hour time period during one of these 2 days that fits your scheduling needs.

Remember this is a requirement that is MANDATORY. Please adjust your schedule accordingly for this event.

Thank you in advance for your participation. We look forward to seeing you all very soon!

Sincerely,

We currently do go into the office yearly for training and to update paperwork. In addition we have mandated online requirements. In the past my review was done on the date of my hire. So I am not sure if this is to replace my own review or not. Adding another question to the list to ask! I really do not have an issue with the Fair itself...just the lack of advance notice.

[poppycat, ADN, BSN]

My agency does everyone's competences every May. We have tests to complete online before we go into the office. We get a notice in March that the tests are available & they follow that up with the dates we can come to the office. They offer this during 1week in May & you go to the office whatever day & time works best for you.