The MANDATORY Skills fair

[Hippy chick]

2 decades ago, I entered nursing. 2 decades ago, it was emphasized that nurses should carry themselves with dignity. 2 decades ago professionalism and patient safety were expected. Unprofessionalism and unsafe patient conditions were not tolerated. WOW how our culture has changed.

Last week, I attended a MANDATORY skills fair. It was graciously started at 7am for the night shift, I seriously feel the neurons firing with the new knowledge I gained. If you have never felt this, it feels very much like a headache. I was seriously drunk with the knowledge I was gaining.

The station that made my neurons fire like the morning after drinking 3 bottles of champagne was entitled ABG interpretation. I saw the sign and decided to go here first because I was thinking ROME, CO2 acid/respiratory, Bicarb base/metabolic, got it! I'll be on my way home in 30 minutes! I was greeted with you are having a baby, we have to figure out WHO DA BABY DADDY”. I stopped looked up and confirmed that I was at the ABG table. 30 ABG's were listed on the page for each one I was never asked what the result interpretation was, I was told what was wrong and asked now, WHO DA BABY DADDY?” My hand was literally slapped for attempting to make it end and work ahead, just to make it end and show what I already knew. The presented told me NO JUST STOP! Listen to me!” WHO DA BABY DADDY?” I got the picture, this was an exercise for me to be dazzled, the only was it was going to stop was if I played along and stroked the ego about how intelligent the presenter was and how beneficial knowing WHO DA BABY DADDY” was to my professional practice. Once I was amazed, it went fairly quickly and I was finished with THIS STATION in about 45 minutes.

Next, I moved on to accessing a port a cath. Again, something I had done a million times, just needed to be sure I was following policy to a tee! I knew had the drill down, stroke the presenter's ego and you will be done. I couldn't! I just couldn't. She had on ill fitting pants that were downright Mediaographic. Nothing on the anterior perineum was left to the imagination. The pants filled in all the crevices and folds. The long head of hair was uncombed except for a perfect roll of the bangs in the front. Again, not once was I asked if I knew how to do this and just checked off. No, I had to be dazzled by someone else touching the equipment and telling me all that she knew. After another 30 minutes, I was done here.

1hour and 15 minutes- 2 out of 10 stations done.

The last station I went to had another staff development educator with uncombed hair, it was on positive communication with patients. I looked at her, looking like she just rolled out of the bed. 8:45 am on my watch. I COULD NOT DO IT ANY MORE.

New nurses missed the strict nurse educators who were crisp and polished. Now those of us who scurried when they showed up on the unit, are left realize you don't know what you've got until it is gone. Now our new nurses on have the role models of WHO DA BABY DADDY? CAMEL! And SLEEPY.

Has anyone ever stopped to think that the way we enculturate our young dictates their behavior and what they deem as appropriate.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I must say, your posts are very dramatic.

[kakamegamama]

So....who was da baby daddy? (Sorry---I couldn't resist)......I, as a former hospital educator am more than a bit disturbed by the unprofessionalism of those who were "manning" the learning stations.....I suppose it was an attempt to lighten the mood? It doesn't sound like it was a professional experience, at all....and, I have a feeling was more than a bit disappointing. Anyway, glad you got through it and on your way, even if it weren't in as timely a fashion as you had hoped. Slapped your hand???????? How condescending and rude.......sheesh......

[klone, MSN, RN]

Your posts suggest that you're a bit disgruntled.

[Everline]

I'm confused.

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

You seem very concerned with how people do their hair.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Was there some program evaluation form that you could use to provide feedback on this travesty of an educational program? If not, is there someone in a position of authority/influence that you could talk to about these issues? Venting on here is all fine and good -- but educational practice this bad needs to be reviewed by people higher up the ladder.

When you give that feedback, don't forget to emphasize how much time you wasted on these stations -- time that cost your employer money -- and that made your drive home less safe.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Was there some program evaluation form that you could use to provide feedback on this travesty of an educational program? If not, is there someone in a position of authority/influence that you could talk to about these issues? Venting on here is all fine and good -- but educational practice this bad needs to be reviewed by people higher up the ladder.

When you give that feedback, don't forget to emphasize how much time you wasted on these stations -- time that cost your employer money -- and that made your drive home less safe.

I'm trying to figure out what, exactly, the OP could legitimately report? Certainly not her critiques of the educators' hairdos & outfits. She could discuss how much she didn't care for the method of presentation, but that's really a subjective opinion. Those 2 items are pretty much the sum total of the original vent.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

On behalf of PROFESSIONAL Nurse Educators everywhere..... you have our abject apology.

What a horrible experience. "Edutainment" has no place in the work setting. We need to adhere to evidence-based practice rooted in Adult Learning Theory... which, by the way, requires us to pre-assess for existing knowledge rather than disrespecting learners by assuming that they are all rank beginners. sheesh. My organization has adopted Donna Wright's model of competency validation - in which a skills portfolio is the preferable method for validation of ongoing skills - rather than conducting a 'show and tell' annually. Honestly, if interpretation of ABGs is part of your normal practice & you do it without any difficulty ... why in the heck would we waste your time running you through a cockamamie exercise?

I insist that my nurse educators function as role models, especially when it comes to standards of professional behavior/appearance. We also require formal qualifications/credentials in the discipline of education rather than on-the-job training for our educators. The job is too important to just promote someone with a "gift of gab" and hope for the best.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I'm trying to figure out what, exactly, the OP could legitimately report? Certainly not her critiques of the educators' hairdos & outfits. She could discuss how much she didn't care for the method of presentation, but that's really a subjective opinion. Those 2 items are pretty much the sum total of the original vent.

She should report that the educational program wasted a lot of the employer's scarce resources and violated national standards of practice for Nursing Professional Development. As HouTx pointed out, it is not the recommended practice to assume that all staff members are incompetent and that everyone needs to hear a lengthy presentation on topics they do everyday. That's a waste of everyone's time and money.

Also, the choice of the "baby daddy" theme sound unprofessional and perhaps offensive. And yes, she most certainly should report the unprofessional grooming/attire of the educational staff. They are supposed to be role modeling good behavior.

Like HouTX, I am a professional nursing educator -- certified in Nursing Professional Development. There are good educational programs and bad ones. And educators are expected to get feedback on their programs so that their educational practice can improve. If the educators did not provide a mechanism to receive feedback on this program, the OP should speak with an appropriate person so that the educators can learn from feedback and provide better programs in the future.

Professional nurses should expect/demand professional-level education taught be people behaving professionally. I work in peds, where it is common to have a little fun with the education, use themes, even dress up -- but we still should (and mostly do) maintain professional standards of practice in our programs.

[~PedsRN~, BSN, RN]

My first thought was it sounds like these people were trying to spruce up the same boring skills that you do every year, because it's a requirement that you are checked off on them every year - so they attempted to make it so you didn't just come in to the skills fair wanting to stab yourself in the eye doing the same old stuff you do every day - that everyone - including the educators, KNOWs how to do already because they are doing these skills in their every day work.

We have silly themes every year for our Education Fairs, and while they are obnoxious, I truly can't imagine what they would be like if they were manned by stiff know it alls who made me show them that I knew how to flush a PICC line.

[odaat]

Can somebody explain the baby daddy thing r/t abg's to me...I'm totally confused