Staff meetings

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New as DON and have monthly meeting for nurses and one for C.N.A.s. How can I get information out there so it doesn't feel like I am just pointing out everything that is wrong for an hour. How can I make them fun and educational. Getting ready for first survey needlepoint preparing staff ideas?

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Make the meetings interactive, games to elicit participation, (toss candy for the right answers), seek volunteers from the staff to present on some of the topics, they can own that topic and become the go-to person. Not only does it improve retention of the material but also improves cooperation in practicing per protocol on the floor.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Have an agenda available before-hand and distribute to staff. Ask that they come to the meetings prepared with some ideas.

And keep the agenda limited to the most important issues so you're not just rattling off ad nauseam. You know, blah, blah, blah.

As one staff member who has sat thru innumerable BORING meetings, I have found that the attempt to cover too many subjects/issues at one time is a KILLER.

You can give out less critical info via handouts and let your shift supervisors do on-unit inservices. Short, sweet & simple.

Just some ideas.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

A slightly different tack here- and one based on my 30+ years of nursing experience.

Everyone who convenes a meeting should be required to ingest 20mg of Lasix and a large glass of water 20 minutes before the meeting commences and to stand up the entire duration of the meeting. If the meeting convener leaves the room to pee, the meeting is over. Thus assuring brevity.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

I always wrote an agenda beforehand.

I always started the agenda with praise for previous topic improvement or a recent resident/family compliment

I always ended the agenda with more praise or compliments

Nurses/aides (scheduled separate meetings) all knew they were welcome to bring their agenda of concerns....with the same start/stop on their agendas. They also knew to bring reasonable suggestions for their concerns.

Food always helps!

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... Ask that they come to the meetings prepared with some ideas.

... on-unit inservices. Short, sweet & simple.

Agree with your ideas, Amo. Except the above.

Don't give staff a homework assignment to come prepared to your meeting... you're not paying them for that time. Nurses work hard enough, and resent further intrusions into what's rightfully their life, their family time, etc.

And at the meeting, they'll be able to give you all that you'll need without preparation. But be careful... will you really be doing something positive about what your inciting??? If it turns out you don't, future ideas will be stunted, and maybe also what they think about these meetings.

On-Unit Inservices -- consider whether staff truly has the time for them. Does the material actually merit more time to develop it as needed? How efficient will the inservice be? How many times will the presenter have to repeat the same spiel? Think about distractions at the unit. Should this topic be best discussed in a meeting?

From experience, on-the-job nursing education generally sucks. Please don't just pass out your list of "improvements" (or what corporate wants), and ask everyone to read it and sign the inservice form. Or even read it to them.

Do take the time to explain, justify, give examples, allow them to give input and discuss openly without fear of upsetting the powers that be. Be sure what's being proposed really makes sense. Will it save them time? Make their job easier? Or are you dishing out more meaningless paperwork and complicating their already overwhelmingly difficult jobs?

Wrote this very quickly... hope the intent / meaning comes through.

What's happened to nursing through the years???

Someone's gotta stand up and stop the nursing insanity. Hope you do.

Good luck!

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I just want to add that making 3rd shift come in the afternoon is exactly the same as making a first shifter come in at 2am. Please don't make night shifters come into meetings during our sleep time!

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... making 3rd shift come in the afternoon...

That's plain nuts!

Thanks for speaking up, B.

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Specializes in adult psych, LTC/SNF, child psych.

Hell, I'd like it if they posted time and date of the staff meeting with further notice than THE DAY BEFORE! I know this isn't DON related, but I'm sure I could bring this to mine and she'd be responsive.

HR was responsible for posting signs saying "MANDATORY TOWN HALL MEETING TOMORROW" on Thursday for a town hall meeting on Friday and her response was, "Well I have this little calendar posted outside of my office..." Umm...I work 11-7 M-F, but what if I'd been off on Friday? I'm imagining her now, making a "naughty" list of all the staff who didn't attend. To her credit, she did have one at 0630 for night shift.

She recently started putting notes in the bathrooms, but I think that calling it "Potty Talk" is just a bit childish. And really, we only need to hear that Mondays are "Pink Mondays" all month (breast cancer awareness) and Fridays are "Purple Fridays" indefinitely (because we love the Baltimore Ravens") a few times. Blocking Mondays and Fridays off on a calendar is just redundant in addition to posting it in the bathrooms.

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As a night nurse, I have to agree with the 2PM meetings. And, no, 10AM is not *better*.

Another hint - don't put up a notice on Monday for a mandatory meeting on Thursday and expect your weekend staff to show up. Just saying...

In fact, this whole 'putting up notices' to inform people of meetings is ludicrous. If you want monthly meetings, schedule them for the second Tuesday or third Monday or whatever - something consistent so people can make plans.

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