Frontline Forum Update
March 26, 2007
Below are questions that were asked at the Frontline Forum on March 26, 2007. The questions were answered by Janet Harris and Jean Smith.
Q: Of the 40+ commitments of new grads for May 2007, have many of them are RNs?
A: They are all RNs. As of April 1, 2007, there are 96 new grads that have committed.
Q: Why the change to eliminate the “day shift supervisor” positions?
A: Those positions weren’t fully developed, so we felt comfortable giving those positions up to lessen leadership in the daytime. The nurse managers and charge nurses are meeting this need. But on the night shifts, house supervisors are needed to focus on patient flow and efficiency.
Q: On 5N, ADN students aren't able to rotate until they are in their 4th semester of school. By then, they've already chosen somewhere to work -- It's too late for us to recruit them. How are students scheduled? We have few preceptors for them.
A: Janet will take this issue to the HCC advisory committee.
Q: Talk about pay raises.
A: Compensation analysis is on-going because of our commitment to those at the bedside. The Professional Development program will assist as well.
On-call status is also being looked at to eliminate anything that isn’t consistent.
Q: The Pediatric Hospital does a nice job of training new grads, but the short staffing is causing nurses to leave. Orientation “looks pretty” but it’s not the reality. For example, if we’re going to have 7 patients when we finish with orientation, then we need to orient with 7 patients.
A: Janet and Jean will as the Catalyst Group to address the patient assignment issue so that a full load is taken prior to successful to completion of orientation.
Q: Can you tell us what’s going on with electronic documentation?
A: It will be the assessment part of documentation only and should be implemented in the Adult Hospital in May.
Q: Can someone recommend a recruitment suggestion for recruiting to Med-Surg areas?
A: The best access is through student experience -- SNAs, SNEs, etc. We have to make them feel welcome and supported in their experience at UMC.
Q: We need more teaching components for patients.
A: Use the programs available to you on-line.
Q: New grads are missing these skills: time management, communication and organization.
A: Janet will ask Hospital Education to address this issue.
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