opinions on in-services

JHUBRAIN · Feb 9, 2005

I do a lot of my inservices at 0630 - 0700 because i can catch night and days (we do 12 hours) also FOOD always helps - Good Luck

And if you do schedule inservices for night shift, forget timing them before midnight. 8:30 PM? :chuckle Yeah, right. I'll drop checking VS, BS, passing evening/night meds, just so you can Powerpoint my way through some boring material. Stop by after my 8 patients are all tucked in, medicated, and my charting is done.
Speaking of Powerpoint, if you're going to use it, don't bother reading from the screen verbatim. You've just insulted my intelligence...

akcarmean, LPN · Feb 9, 2005

All of my inservice with my Home Health Care employer has been handouts with ? at the end that have to be turned in. They are very insiteful with loads of information. Your turn in the ?? They can be done when you have a chance and you get to keep the information for future reference. I like to do that you neveer know when it might come in handy. But that is just me. Some people don't like to save them but this works our great for us.

Angie

Dorito, ASN, RN · Feb 9, 2005

I've just hooked up with some drug reps. They provide speakers and food and also will do more than one inservice to accomodate more staff. Most of my inservices are done at 1:30-2pm to accomodate pm's and days. Interactive seem to work best, along with case scenarios or case studies. I'm getting to be a power point guru. Good luck. I struggle with attendance as well and my inservices aren't mandatory.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Feb 9, 2005

LOL, I do all the fun games and prizes bit...but I also listen to my staff on things they WANT to be educated about! We just recently had a patient dx by wound culture with MRSA...of course I didn't panic..but my CNA's did because they don't have the knowledge base I do, or simply forgot about it. They asked me to do an inservice on it..and I will be doing that shortly!

I also had a request to do an inservice on s/sx of spousal abuse in the elderly! Tricky one really...since I work in assisted living, many couples live in small apts and stay in there and are cared for by CNA's. Small s/sx started popping up, mostly related to a change in one of their conditions, dementia, or one spouse having to be the caregiver for their loved one..and the abuse would follow slowly and rather sneeky! I am still doing the research..but I thought that was an awesome suggestion, and very needed for my particular type of facility! I think I will do role play on this one (with prizes of course for best actor, best supporting actor, best comic..LOL!).

Watch the open forums though..they turn to b**** fests too often...learn to re-direct well :). I have had to struggle with this since I have as much to complain about and relate as my staff does..LOL! Sometimes I get caught up in it too..LOL!

Mister Chris, MSN, NP · Feb 9, 2005

What is it that people like or dislike about in-services? I frequently do the in-servicing and have been experimenting with different types of presenting styles and activities. I would appreciate any good suggestions on things that really capture your attention or tune you out. Not having in-services is obviously not an optiojn. Just looking to make them wothwhile for everyone involved.

Dislikes:

Boring lecturers who seem to be under the impression that they are dynamic and intersting.

Lectures that last more than 45mins per session.

In-service/lectures that do not have any refreshments.

'Mandatory' in-services that have been set up without thinking of the on-going daily work program on the wards and departments.

Likes:

Action taken based on the feed back collected from recent in-services/lectures, and fresh in-services/lectures organised.

Old and new subjects for lectures - with one of your own team, work mates, or even you, giving the lecture.

Lectures from drug and medical appliance companies.

Active group participation type in-services.

Active feedback at the end of a lecture (- not just a tick sheet to hand in when it is all over).

Mister Chris. :specs:

saskrn · Feb 9, 2005

Completely scrap the power point presentations. However, they are a good nap time.

Make games out of the info, offer small prizes - pens, calculators, datebooks, etc.

Videos and handouts also provide good nap time. Don't "read" to me, I don't hear you.

Offer multiple times. When I work nights, I am not going to be at your 1pm in-service.

Food and drink are always good. If you don't want to shell out the dough, let employees bring their own. It has been my experience, repeatedly, that nurses always show up when food is involved! :chuckle

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Feb 9, 2005

OH man...I remembered something. The inservices that my facility does are sneeky! I can't help the timeing...even thought I have tried...but try to avoid this...

DO NOT schedule inservices for times when you have to pick up your paycheck! Holly cow, they mandate these before you are even allowed to touch your paycheck (so one inservice every two weeks on FRIDAY no matter your schedule!)

My opinion is you earned that paycheck, you made the effort to come in, if people are like me I need to use that money (oh yes I live from paycheck to paycheck too!) right away or get it into the bank ASAP, that should be your money your time...not works!

Anyway...I think that is rather sneeky of them..and they only offer two times...right before day shift ends, and at day shift end...poor swings and nocs get the shard on that one!!!!!

saskrn · Feb 9, 2005

I've just hooked up with some drug reps. They provide speakers and food and also will do more than one inservice to accomodate more staff. Most of my inservices are done at 1:30-2pm to accomodate pm's and days. Interactive seem to work best, along with case scenarios or case studies. I'm getting to be a power point guru. Good luck. I struggle with attendance as well and my inservices aren't mandatory.

Nothing personal, but 1:30-2pm does not accommodate someone who works 7P-7A - that's the middle of my "night" and I'm sleeping then. I have not and will not ever attend an in-service at that time of the day. And unfortunately, myself included, I have seen many people sleep during power point presentations. They just aren't that exciting.

If you want to reach all of your staff, then try offering multiple in-services at different times of the day. IMO, the night shift gets shafted alot on things due to the time of day, and night workers are not less important than the day shift.

Rant done, I think/hope.

medkids · Feb 9, 2005

we used to have a nurse at our that did education on the off shifts. She would shove a cart around with whatever stuff she needed for the latest topic. She would literally hunt folks down to listen. The good part is she kept inserves to about 5-10min. and always had chocolate or something to give out once completed. and lots of hands on stuff.

saskrn · Feb 9, 2005

we used to have a nurse at our that did education on the off shifts. She would shove a cart around with whatever stuff she needed for the latest topic. She would literally hunt folks down to listen. The good part is she kept inserves to about 5-10min. and always had chocolate or something to give out once completed. and lots of hands on stuff.

It's nice to hear that she cared enough to do that!

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Feb 9, 2005

LOL, Okay like that..but with staffing the way it is...ummmmm I don't even have the time to pack a cart..LOL!

boulergirl, CNA · Feb 9, 2005

OH man...I remembered something. The inservices that my facility does are sneeky! I can't help the timeing...even thought I have tried...but try to avoid this...
DO NOT schedule inservices for times when you have to pick up your paycheck! Holly cow, they mandate these before you are even allowed to touch your paycheck (so one inservice every two weeks on FRIDAY no matter your schedule!)
My opinion is you earned that paycheck, you made the effort to come in, if people are like me I need to use that money (oh yes I live from paycheck to paycheck too!) right away or get it into the bank ASAP, that should be your money your time...not works!
Anyway...I think that is rather sneeky of them..and they only offer two times...right before day shift ends, and at day shift end...poor swings and nocs get the shard on that one!!!!!

Thank you! A voice of reason!! There's nothing that burns me up faster than being forced to come to a mandatory meeting with no sleep after working all night, only to sit through:

1.) an in-service or video that insults my intelligence and bores me to tears, or

2.) the dreaded standard-fare meeting, in which mgmt. reminds us of what we're NOT doing right, and shift wars erupt once again, with accusations and arguments. Usually it's day shift vs. night shift. :smiley_ab :argue:

And a lot of THIS tends to happen: :deadhorse

And all of this just to get a paycheck. I keep asking why I do this to myself for $8.00/hr. :banghead: