Need to know what staff want to learn? Just ask
Need to know what staff want to learn? Just ask
Maine agency develops questionnaire
Maybe it's time to overhaul your education department, or maybe a recent agency merger means you no longer have a handle on which inservices the staff need most.
Whatever the reasons, perhaps the simplest way to start making changes is by creating a needs assessment survey, suggests Claire Brannigan, RN, MS, staff development coordinator for Community Health Services of Portland, ME. The nonprofit organization belongs to the Visiting Nurse Association network and serves the southern coastal and western mountain region of Maine through three offices.
Staff have chance to respond
Community Health Services recently distributed this survey to nursing and therapy staff, Brannigan says. (See needs assessment questionnaire, p. 66.)
"We wanted an idea of what kinds of mater-ials people have available and what kinds of materials they need," she explains. "Do they need flip charts or written information or videotapes?"
Results determine next move
The results, which are not yet in, may show Brannigan whether the agency should invest in computer-assisted educational software or whether it should obtain specialized videotapes, Brannigan says.
Also, Brannigan says she expects to use the data in helping her develop client educa-tion materials. One question, for example, asks staff to check which teaching topics clients need.
An administrative assistant will help Brannigan put the data on a spreadsheet that breaks it down between diagnostic categories and teaching learning needs.
"We have formed an education committee," Brannigan says. "And we're working on orientation, and then we'll look at the resources we need, including teaching learning guides."
Subscribe Now for Access
You have reached your article limit for the month. We hope you found our articles both enjoyable and insightful. For information on new subscriptions, product trials, alternative billing arrangements or group and site discounts please call 800-688-2421. We look forward to having you as a long-term member of the Relias Media community.