Importance of reassessing skills of nurses???

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jan 27, 2006

Help! I have to write about the importance of assessing and reassessing the skills of nursing staff. I know annual education is important, but I have problems putting it into words. Other than "reassessing skills is important to keep nurses refreshed on tasks that may not be done often", I can't think of anything to say. Any words of wisdom on this???

In recent years public awareness has been raised about the need for regulatory boards to assure continuing competence of nurses:

http://www.ncsbn.org/pdfs/Continued_Comp_Paper_TestingServices.pdf

Hope this helps :)

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2006

Organized competency assessments are the documented proof that healthcare organizations are carrying out quality improvement (at least the evaluation and data collection phases). Accrediting agencies such as JCAHO, require some sort of documented competency assessment as well as documented staff education in order to maintain accreditation. In order for a facility to be a Medicare provider and be able to bill Medicare for the services they provide to Medicare beneficiaries they are required to maintain accreditation with JCAHO or the AOA.

Don't forget that hospitals are mostly owned by corporations nowadays that have to answer to their shareholders. Part of corporate America that has become very "big" is providing customer service and proving excellence in product delivery. What better way to show the public that a hospital has a great staff than to pull out statistics on competency testing.

Another point. Competency testing may be a requirement of the insurance company who provides the Liability Insurance for the hospital.