Question for In Hospital Nurse Educator

[Magnolia11]

Hi, this may not be the right place, but can't seem to find any more suitable.  I am a CRRN working at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital and will be transitioning to a nurse educator role, so I will be dealing with everything with all nurses/techs and was wondering if anyone had any advice they could pass along.   I don't want to reinvent the wheel.  I am looking for insight on the best formats, not the actual content, I know what I have to teach, just not the best ways to get the information across. For instance, instructing on the floor in real time?  vs mini in-services vs. organized classes, staff would attend in off time?  Thanks in advance for any input, it will be much appreciated!

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

Another thing that makes a huge difference is making sure any inservices are well organized, as interesting as possible and geared towards what the audience needs to know to apply that knowledge. Materials ready to go, equipment working etc. Even if the subject matter itself is dry (I.e. required yearly education), add a brief, relevant video slip to the presentation. Organize the material in a different way. Add an acronym to remember info. Present an analogy or do a brief demonstration to illustrate an important point. Anything to catch the learner's attention and promote recall. Nothing is worse than watching the exact same presentation for x years in a row. Staff notices if the educator has put for effort to prepare for a presentation!

[love2banurse89, BSN, RN]

On 5/19/2021 at 10:35 PM, Magnolia11 said:

Thank you all very much, that is exactly the kind of information I was looking for, I wondered about 1-2 hour in services, but staff already hate having to come in for mandatory meetings so I figured that probably wouldn't go over real well. I like the idea of teaching on the floor in real time but worry that I won't have their full attention, patients, call lights, etc.  

How have you found this to work out for you?

I’m the Director of Clinical Education & work in long-term care. Teaching “on the floor” works, you just have to be very available & ready to teach at a moments notice. Just before change of shift can be a good time, when people from both shifts are standing around, getting ready for report; be alert for times when people have a slower time. I usually save it for brief things, like a review of repositioning residents safely, new COVID guidelines, preventing UTIs, etc. Have a signature sheet available so you can get it signed right then & there. ? If it’s something important, I have everything ready (education, sign in sheet, candy ? ) & walk around the building throughout the day to catch people when I can. Time intensive but effective. 

[love2banurse89, BSN, RN]

8 minutes ago, vampiregirl said:

Another thing that makes a huge difference is making sure any inservices are well organized, as interesting as possible and geared towards what the audience needs to know to apply that knowledge. Materials ready to go, equipment working etc. Even if the subject matter itself is dry (I.e. required yearly education), add a brief, relevant video slip to the presentation. Organize the material in a different way. Add an acronym to remember info. Present an analogy or do a brief demonstration to illustrate an important point. Anything to catch the learner's attention and promote recall. Nothing is worse than watching the exact same presentation for x years in a row. Staff notices if the educator has put for effort to prepare for a presentation!

Great suggestions! No one wants to waste time waiting. I also start on time no matter how many people are there. 
 

Recently I did a Med Aide skills fair. I started with a review of the basics—but had the Med aides fill in the sheet rather than just lecturing. I had the posters I’d used for past inservices, set up around the room, for reference. They could work together finding the answers. I think they enjoyed it & as I listened to their discussion I could correct them if needed. 
 

To review blood sugars & insulin administration, I created several scenarios, w/the “drs order” of sliding scale insulin. Then gave them a blood sugar & asked how much insulin they’d give &/or other interventions. It was a good chance for discussion & learning.