Annual Competency Fair Suggestions

[kristinc312, RN]

I am a clinical nurse manager at stand-alone dual diagnosis hospital. My DON has asked me to do some brainstorming on how we should set up our annual competency fair. Last year was somewhat of a disaster, and didn't really accomplish anything. There is a list of about 10 topics she wants to cover and we have about 7 people available to teach. i would like to do something that is organized, convenient for both shifts, and is actually informative. Can anyone give me some ideas on how to set this up?

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

I think you've already identified the key to a skills fair success - organization:) I've done skills fairs at a LTC - so probably some of the same challenges you are looking at, some different.

Take a look at your 10 topics - see if some of the shorter ones could be combined into a single station. Also see if you have one skill or area that you think will take longer than the rest, you may want to assign 2 of your instructors to that one.

Picking a cohesive theme is another thing that helps, but I always tried to avoid "cheesy" themes as this really takes away from the sense of professionalism that I was always trying to promote. Look at different ways of approaching the topics so every station isn't the same thing - skills, non-cheesy games. I've also done some stations that were a brief computer inservices that were completed during the fair (so this also frees up you limited instructors).

If you can generate interest in a topic, sometimes it helps to identify resources that people can pursue later work - great websites, interesting articles etc. It also helps generate interest in a topic if you can relate it to the nurse's practice - more efficient ways of doing things, how it will improve quality of care, potential negative impact if something is not considered etc.

It also helps to have a "reward" upon completion of the skills fair - food/ beverages or ticket/ credit if you have a facility cafeteria.

Good luck!

[CraigB-RN, MSN, RN]

Take a serious look at what your evaluating in each area. Knowledge level stuff can be done by posters, etc. Are you doing simple skills verification or teaching as well. Depending on your answer, the best path could be different.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

At my previous hospital (medical) we had a skills fair every year. Basically you figure out what topics need to be discussed and instead of having lectures they actually set it up almost like a science fair. There were posters on each topic and in some cases someone at each poster to discuss the topic further, but briefly. Some poster areas also had skills stations, like port access for example. They grouped the skills stations according to department as well, which made navigating them easier.

It was a great idea in my opinion. You were given a check list depending on your staff level and your department when entering the fair and some poster/skills stations required a signature, some were just self learning self check off.

Annie

[jrt4]

There is some really great feedback in this thread. My suggestion would be similar to others. Find out what can be done by either posterboard ( I hate posterboards) or electronically via a web inservice of sorts. Set up stations and be organized. Know where your bottlenecks are going to be and plan for them... if you know station 1 is going to take a long time don't make everyone start at station 1. My goal for competency day was to never have anyone with any downtime. They don't want to be there longer then they have to be and I don't want to waste time.