Professional Development
The mission of the Shands Jacksonville Nursing Department Professional Practice and Research is to provide innovative and creative educational opportunities for nursing staff which facilitate professional and personal growth, professional competence and advance career goals.
This mission is achieved by the following goals:
- Foster nursing research and evidenced-based practice within nursing
- Facilitate competence in nursing services by ongoing assessment, development of programs, and evaluation of the outcomes
- Improve the quality of patient care by educating nurses in their role regarding nurse specific quality indicators, national patient safety goals, benchmarking data, and best practice, evidence-based guidelines
The development of educational offerings utilizing video, audio, PowerPoint capabilities, increase the number and effectiveness of educational programs. The use of the Shands Jacksonville Infonet to offer educational opportunities to the staff 24 hours a day has been helpful in reaching the many staff that work on all shifts and in all facilities.
The classroom offerings for American Heart Association courses, ICU skills, continuing education offerings and leadership and professional development courses have steadily increased. The New Nurse Fellowship program, Research Mini-grant Fellowship, Critical Care Fellowship and Charge Nurse Leadership Development Program have been implemented in response to requests from the staff.
Additionally, the Success Academy and Nursing Education Department work collaboratively with our department to expand the educational opportunities available to staff. The Success Academy is dedicated to organization-wide training and development. Services include developing and delivering mandatory training classes, such as New Employee Orientation, New Manager Orientation, Service Leads the Way and Diversity Training. The Success Academy also offers free consultation to departments upon request for employee performance, customer service and team building. As a nice perk, the department also offers many continuing education courses onsite and free of charge for employees. A department within the Success Academy, the Nursing Education Department, coordinates the planning, implementation, evaluation, and documentation of nursing orientation, nursing staff development offerings, hospital computer order entry training, mandatory education, life support programs (e.g., ACLS, BLS, etc.), annual nursing competency offerings, and continuing education programs.
Detailed information regarding some of our many development programs is provided below:
Charge Nurse Leadership Development
Shands Jacksonville Nursing developed a Charge Nurse Leadership Development Program to foster skills in the areas of supervision and delegation, communication, conflict resolution, and team building. Selection of these content areas for focus was based on feedback from charge nurses, nursing leadership, review of the literature, the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program, and previous research using a similar approach (Sherman, 2005).The program includes the use of pre and post tests, assessment tools, case scenarios, group activities, and program evaluation by participants. (This program was sponsored by the State of Florida, Department of Health through the University of Central Florida and the Florida Center for Nursing.) The following items were those used for the program and are available for use in your organization. Please reference/credit the development of the materials by Shands Jacksonville Medical Center Nursing Services in your program materials.
Facilitator Manual
- Program Facilitor Contact Information
- Charge Nurse Development Program
- Presentation: Art of Delegation
Participant Guide
Charge Nurse Leadership Development
Shands Jacksonville Nursing developed a Charge Nurse Leadership Development Program to foster skills in the areas of supervision and delegation, communication, conflict resolution, and team building. Selection ofthese content areas for focus was based on feedback from charge nurses, nursing leadership, review of the literature, the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program, adn previous research using a smiliar approach (Sherman, 2005). The program includes the use of pre and posts tests, assessment tools, case scenarios, group activities, and program evaluation by participants. (This program was sponsored by the State of Florida, Department of Health through the University of Central Florida and the Florida Center of Nursing.) The following items were those used for the program and are available for use in your organization. Please reference/credit the development of the materials by Shands Jacksonville Medical Center Nursing services in your program materials.
AORN Perioperative 101
The Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) 101 Program is a six-month program to provide critical thinking and skills necessary for nurses to work in the surgical arena. The program teaches professional nurses to become effective perioperative, intra-operative nurses who care for surgical patients. The program provides rotation to supporting departments such as Central Processing, Pre-op Holding, and Post Acute Care Unit, as well as classroom time, computer-based operating room module information, and clinical experience in various settings. After the first four weeks, the student rotates to different services within the operating room to expand their knowledge before they are allowed to practice as an independent Perioperative Nurse. The student is supported throughout the program with experienced preceptors.
Critical Care Fellowship Program
Shands Jacksonville offers a 16-week fellowship that combines classroom, computer and precepted unit learning using the Essentials of Critical Care Orientation (ECCO) from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Staff from Nutritional Support, Nursing Research, Respiratory Therapy, Wound Care, Pharmacy and Mother-Baby lend their expertise to provide a broad critical care knowledge base for the participants.
Critical Care Preceptor Program
This is a one-day workshop combining the how-to’s of being a preceptor with practical training on teaching specific critical care skills such as hemodynamic monitoring, ventilator management, pacemakers, etc. Discussions regarding expectations of the preceptor/preceptee relationship, dealing with generational differences, what to do when it’s not working and the importance of accurately documenting progress are part of the program.
New Nurse Fellowship Program
Shands Jacksonville offers a New Nurse Fellowship Program (NNFP) that is a 10-week program developed to provide transition of the graduate nurse to that of a professional nurse. Critical thinking scenarios and practice of skills practiced on most nursing units are essential components of this program. The program provides new nurses the ability to demonstrate the core competencies required for entry-level nurses through practice with equipment and use of the simulation lab for critical thinking scenarios. During the 10-week program, the new nurse will participate in classroom learning, skill practice in the simulation and skill-teaching labs, work with a "buddy" and preceptor on the nursing unit assigned and will spend a shift with Wound Care, a day in the ED to start IVs (if needed) and a day in the lab drawing blood, if that skill is needed.
Preceptor Program
This one-day workshop prepares our nurses to become a preceptor for new nurses joining Shands Jacksonville. The day includes information on adult learning theory, multi-generational considerations, conflict management, and an opportunity to "practice" being a preceptor for the nurse. Using the Simulation Lab, the Educator and Clinical Education Specialists act the part of the new nurse asking questions related to a particular piece of equipment or patient condition. The new preceptor is then coached on his/her ability to teach and mentor "the new nurse" related to the particular situation. Participants in this program are voluntary and express an interest in developing coaching, mentoring and leadership skills. Preceptors are reimbursed for their commitment and willingness to help others become effective SJMC nurses.
Professional Recognition Program
The Nursing Professional Recognition Program rewards bedside nurses who demonstrate behaviors that excel the professional practice of nursing. Participants must meet the following criteria:
- One year of bedside nursing experience as a 0.5 or greater FTE (full time equivalent) at Shands Jacksonville
- Current licensure
- Meet all mandatory requirements
- A recent satisfactory evaluation
Depending on a point system, participants are eligible for a monetary bonus.
Nursing Simulation Lab
The Nursing Simulation Lab at Shands Jacksonville is used by Shands Nursing for the New Nurse Fellowship Program, the Preceptor Program and the Critical Care Fellowship Program. It is being introduced into more and more programs through the Professional Practice Department. The lab houses various "static" anatomical models as well as a Laerdal patient simulator. The space is currently equipped with a monitor, crash cart, patient bed and various pieces of equipment to allow nurses to practice in a safe, controlled environment. Many nurses using the lab are presented with a patient situation and must assess the patient, determine next steps and contact the Rapid Response Team or the physician in charge of the patient. The simulated patient is able to talk, breathe, demonstrate pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation as well as heart rhythm. It can develop into various stages of critical situations allowing the nurse to use the crash cart including the defibrillator and external pacer. Nurse evaluations of the simulation lab have been very favorable.
Tuition Reimbursement
Employees who are classified as a non-probationary, full-time employee are eligible for tuition reimbursement benefits. The degree program, certification, or course work must clearly provide benefit to Shands Jacksonville as well as the employee.