New to being an RN Supervisor

Career Columnist / Author · Jul 30, 2017

I'm really lost at where to even begin to create INTERESTING inservices for my CNAs and LPNs. I work at a nursing home and would like to not be the "boring educator." Yes, I can show some videos and what not but I don't have a clue where to pull ideas and resources from... anyone??? Help! ;0)

I'm an educator as well, and here's some ideas: Peruse some CE provider websites to get ideas for topics. Ask your CNAs what topics they'd like to learn about.

Incorporate small group activities. Here's one- you can assign each group to discuss a controversial topic, and then have each group report on their topic. For example, have them discuss if clients should be able to pick and choose their CNAs or not, and why or why not.

Short You Tube videos are great. There are some award winning videos on hand washing (surprisingly entertaining) alone and basically any topic you can think of.

Product inservices from a vendor, such as using protective perineal creams, or condom caths.

Skills training such as review of critical vitals signs.

Simulation exercises followed by debriefing, such as having them wear mittens, thick glasses with vaseline to obscure vision, cotton balls in their ears and ill-fitting shoes.

I could keep going and going. Once you get the ideas rolling, you'll think of more.

ShimmaShimma0304 · Jul 30, 2017

Thank you SO much!!! I have browsed through YouTube here and there and ran across some 3 and 4 minute things but I'll keep digging. We have some videos in our office that aren't too lengthy but the inservices have to be at least 45 minutes. I will definitely use your suggestions and ask them their opinions. I think they would really appreciate that, for sure. I've literally been at this new job/facility for 2 weeks! I have 2 more week of training. My job is a combination of RN Supervisor and Wound Nurse (measure certain wounds once a week and implement treatment plans, etc.). My next inservice will be due at the end of August. Thank you again for your advice!! :0)

amoLucia · Jul 31, 2017

I usually asked staff "what do you think your PEERS need/like to hear or learn about? I found that folk were usually too reserved to admit to anything for themselves, but boy, could they make suggestions when it seemed to be 'for the other guy'. It was safer for them that way. And the needs were rather appropriate.

I also had a simulation exercise that I thought was extremely meaningful. I would have CNA staff practice feeding one another. One student was the care person and one was the pt needing to be fed. A box of cereal or cheese sandwich was our usual meal but the feed-er would feed slow or feed fast or dribble. And the feed-ee would be all slumped down in the bed and not able to do a thing for self.

ShimmaShimma0304 · Jul 31, 2017

Funny you mention that. My new boss gave me a stack of little pieces of paper where she had done that very thing. Team work was a biggie, then there were things like wanting to know how to interact with difficult residents and their families including verbal abuse, respect, vital sign review,

POA laws (not sure how to incorporate that into an inservice but I wrote it down), and there were other things that won't give them CEUs as they said they wanted food, CNA Day, a raise, door prizes, 12-hr shifts, more kinds of soaps & deodorants... LOL Alrighty! LOL So I have lots of homework to do still. ;0)

Sue Demonas, BSN, MSN, PhD, RN · Aug 2, 2017

Do a needs assessment to see what your staff want to know more about. Maybe they would consider doing all or part of a presentation.

ShimmaShimma0304 · Aug 2, 2017

Several of them said they wanted more teamwork so I printed out a bunch of stuff on that. I would like to maybe make it a discussion type of thing... I can read some excerpts from articles and maybe have some of them give examples of times when they were either turned down when they needed help and how that made them feel... and then the opposite-- when they do get a good set of helping hands from a nice team player-- it makes your job SO much better! I also wanted to try to make it interesting and fun... still working on that idea. í ½í¸œí ½í¸‚

jrt4 · Aug 3, 2017

Bring food. That always works for me :)

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Aug 13, 2017

All above are good ideas. Maybe the 1rst inservice could be about future inservices? A forum where the staff get to provide input on future topics. Or even better a simple Q & A. You can more formally introduce yourself to the staff and get to know them a little better while addressing their questions. One of the first things staff will have concerns about is how much a new manager will change things. If you do have any policy changes in the works this would be a good time to publicly announce them. Nobody likes being blindsided by a series of new policies, some of which frankly seem to make no sense to the staff working on the units. If there are no changes coming any time soon it's good to reassure the staff of that as well, as long as you make it known that changes can occur if needed.

This would be a good opportunity for you to get a feel for the culture of the unit you are responsible for. If staff knows from the beginning that you are approachable and will actually listen to their concerns even if you are not in a position to do anything about them. Like concerns about wages, scheduling, perks like food and CNA days and supplies. I doubt if you have the ability to do anything about these issues but since you already know they are on peoples minds you can at least acknowledge that you are aware of their requests.

ShimmaShimma0304 · Aug 14, 2017

Very cool idea. Will run this buy the Director of Nurses. â˜ºï¸