dhenceroth

I am a Dir. of Risk Management /PI in a hospital. I have a CPHQ certification and plan to take the CPHRM soon. Performance Improvement has evolved alot over the years and as Janis said...you need a sound knowledge of statistical process control (understanding control charts) and also statistical significance tests. For me it has been really challenging....besides loving my clinical years in ICU, I always was interested in math and thought about being a lawyer....so I satisfy those interests in my current job. It's not all fun though....can be long hours and Risk Managers even get woke up at night!!

I left bedside nursing 8 years ago.....have been working as Performance Improvement Coordinator and then 1 year ago, I became Director of Risk Management/PI. I have a PI Coordinator (a bedside nurse that came from ICU) that works with me. I love it....every day is a new challenge. Contact me if you want to know more.

We do not have walking rounds at our hospital, however they do it at a SNF/LTC facility where I visit a family member frequently. I can often hear what they are saying and I think it is a definite confidentiality issue. I think the risks outweigh the benefits....besides, as you say, this may be the first time the nurse going off duty has gotten to sit down!! Good luck.