Please help, the horror of JC documentation in orientation

Here are a few tips:

1. Don't blame The Joint Commission. They did not design the form, nor do they require it. They simply require that you document competence. You and your hospital are free to choose how you do that. There is lots of flexibility allowed. Recognize that poor choices have been made by previous/current educators at your hospital that have resulted in an impractical form/system. Putting the responsibility where it belongs will help you navigate the politics of improving the situation.

2. You are going to need political support from your hospital's educational leadership and administration in order to change your system and form. Get that support before you invest a lot of time and energy designing something new. Do your managers and fellow educators agree that there is a problem and that a change is needed? If not, start there. You'll need their support.

3. Do what you have started to do here. Contact other hospitals (preferably once that your key stakeholders know about and respect). Ask them to share information about how they document new employee competence and re-affirm it annually.

4. Review the literature on competency assessment and documentation. It's a common problem and you should be able to find articles, etc. on the topic.

5. Form a committee to design a new system. A committee will give you credibility and help your political position - especially if you get the right people to serve on the committee. You want people who will help with the work ... but you also want people whose endorsement of the committee's products will help you politically.

What you have is more of a political problem than an educational practice problem. Designing a new, shorter and easier form is the easy part. Selling it to both the administration and the staff is the bigger challenge. Get you "political ducks in a row" and then let the new form/system evolve from the work of the committee you establish.