Be In the Know!

Have you ever hired nursing assistants and, after HR paperwork and a quick tour of your facility or agency, sent them off to a full day’s work? Does orientation seem like a waste of time with CNAs? After all, many of them don’t stick around long, so why bother? Well, here’s a tale from my past that spells out the problem with that theory:

When I started my first job as a new nursing graduate, it was on a busy hematology/oncology unit at a big teaching hospital. I was green, intimidated and in need of a good orientation. Did I receive it? Nope…instead I was thrown into a full patient assignment. (There was a preceptor assigned to me, but she was busy with her own caseload.) When I expressed my concerns to my preceptor, she said to me, “Look, we know an orientation would be nice. But, you’re a warm body to fill a spot on this shift. Just do the best you can because none of us have time to help you.”

What happened? Well, thankfully, I avoided causing any harm to my patients! But, my stress level went sky high; I felt alienated from my co-workers; and I spent my days off worrying about work. Before long, I developed strep throat and walking pneumonia. After a month, I transferred to another oncology unit where the staff was willing to orient me.

So, guess what? Once again, the heme/onc unit was short staffed! Their neglect of my learning needs was shortsighted and cost them another “warm body”. And, as time went on, I found out that the cycle continued; very few nurses wanted to work on that unit. Their attitude about orientation harmed everyone: the supervisor, the staff and the patients!

It’s the same with nursing assistants. If they are not oriented properly to their role within your workplace, they are likely to become stressed, overwhelmed and anxious to move on to another job. This vicious cycle is part of why CNA turnover is so high across the United States.

There is good news. Studies have shown that, on average, when an organization institutes a high quality orientation, their turnover rate decreases by 50% within two years! That’s one reason why we developed a complete CNA Orientation Program entitled, “Getting Off to a Good Start”. We wanted to help you with your aide retention rates AND provide the tools and support that nursing assistants need when they begin a new job.

“Getting Off to a Good Start” includes information on professionalism, communication, teamwork, patient rights, infection control, time management, stress management, personal wellness, customer service, cultural diversity, quality improvement, documentation and LOTS of practical client care tips. And, the program gives the learner SIX hours of inservice credit…right off the bat!

If you want more information on our CNA Orientation Program, please feel free to give us a call at 877-809-5515. We’re happy to answer any questions you have and/or email you a preview of the program.

Happy Hiring!
Linda

Linda Leekley BS, RN
www.knowingmore.com

It’s great to know that our inservices are helping health care organizations achieve measurable outcomes. Many customers tell us that it’s a “trickle down” effect; they save time and money with our inservices; the nurse aides add to their knowledge and skill set; and the clients benefit from being cared for by well-prepared staff.

Here are some more ways that In the Know customers have benefited from using our inservices:

“When I ordered ‘Understanding Depression’ from In the Know, I was really thinking of my employees. Gas prices were very high and it didn’t look like we would be having a increase in Medicaid reimbursement. However, since presenting the inservice, I have noticed in our aides weekly notes that they are more aware of their clients’ moods.”
Norma B.
American Healthcare Services
Mount Airy, North Carolina

“We love the ‘Importance of Activity for the Elderly’ inservice from In the Know.. We really believe that keeping our residents active, alert and stimulated mentally as well as physically provides a better quality of life. New staff members have a hard time recognizing the importance of this. However, once we have them do this inservice we notice a huge change in their attitude and we see them get more involved with the activities. Some employees even come to us with new activity ideas that they would like to try. This inservice has really made a difference!”
Teri S.
Latter Days Assisted Living
Santaquin, Utah

“To assist our CNAs in stepping up, we cultivated a group of nursing assistant preceptors. We utilized a number of In the Know inservices as their course content. This helped the preceptors become the ‘go to’ people for the other CNAs. The preceptors provide information and are seen as an ‘on unit’ resource. They also take responsibility for insuring that all the nursing assistants also complete the In the Know modules.”
Stephanie W.
Deborah Heart & Lung Center
Browns Mill, New Jersey

Are your CNA inservices helping you overcome challenges with your nursing assistants and/or client care? If not, they should be! Give us a call today at 877-809-5515 and tell us about a current problem you’d like to solve. We’ll help you find the best solution…guaranteed!

Take care,
Linda

Linda Leekley BS, RN
CEO, In the Know, Inc.

Today, you can read about our final group of nursing assistants who were selected by their supervisors and all of us at In the Know to be honored for being outstanding on the job:

Miranda M., who is a real team player at Dependable Home Healthcare in Martinsville, Virginia

Linda L., a top-notch CNA at Carolinas Medical Center-Union in Monroe, North Carolina

Josephine A., a real star at Good Samaritan Lutheran Health Care Center in Delmar, New York

Nita W., who believes in the mission of the Area Agency on Aging of West Central Arkansas in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Marie S., who excels at her job at the Jerome Home in New Britain, Connecticut

Supervisor, Fiana P., told us that she is so glad to have Miranda on her team. She has been able to please some of their most challenging clients. The agency stands by its name, Dependable Home Healthcare, and Miranda is ALWAYS dependable! Miranda has chosen a career as a nursing assistant, but it’s obvious that nursing is in her heart.

At CMC-Union, Kathleen R. reported that Linda is an extraordinary person. She is always so friendly and courteous to both patients and staff. Linda is always willing to help. She has been working for the hospital for a long time and knows everyone. You can always expect a lift in your spirits when you see her in the hall. Linda’s patient care is outstanding!

Supervisor, Marjorie H., told us that Josephine is always doing all the little extra things that make a resident’s day. The residents confide in her; if they are grieving, she cries right along with them. And, if they need a “lift”, all she has to do is show them her beautiful smile. Josephine’s co-workers are all glad that she is part of their team!

Missy M., Director of Health Services, reported that Nita has been working with their Agency for many years. Even though she has since earned her LPN degree, Nita continues to work full-time as a CNA because she believes in the mission of the Agency to help seniors lead independent, meaningful and dignified lives. Nita sees clients in their homes on a daily basis and always goes above and beyond to see their needs are met. She is the eyes and ears of the Agency and they feel so lucky to have her. The quality of their clients’ lives is so much better because Nita is looking after them!

At the Jerome Home, Kathy F. told us that Marie is an outstanding CNA. She works the 3-11 shift on their dementia unit. Marie is faced with challenging behaviors every day. She has learned to respond with a caring tone–which is sometimes all that is needed. Marie is always striving to improve her education and skills by participating in many of the classes offered at her facility. Recently, she was selected to take part in a phlebotomy training class so that she can draw blood as needed for her residents. Marie is a star employee!

We also send special recognition to all the CNAs at Washington County Hospital in Nashville, Illinois. Your supervisor, Clara S., told us that she is fortunate enough to have outstanding CNAs on every shift…and there was no way she could nominate just one. So, congratulations to all of you!

WOW! Such amazing stories of personal and professional growth! We send a big thank you…to Miranda, Linda, Josephine, Nita, Marie and all the thousands and thousands of other hardworking CNAs who bring so much of themselves to their jobs!

CONGRATULATIONS from the Team at In the Know!

Continuing education should do more than fulfill annual inservice requirements. It should meet the learning needs of your CNAs and, in turn, have a measurable impact on client care. That’s what you get when you use inservices from In the Know. Consider these examples from just a few of our customers:

Renee F. at Fountainbleau Nursing Center: “We were having a large number of falls among our residents. We gave our CNAs the ‘Understanding Fall Risk Factors’ inservice to educate them on this issue. In the past month, our falls have been cut in half!”

Temika Y. at Generation Solutions: “After presenting the ‘Understanding Diabetes’ inservice to our home health aides, one aide recognized the signs of hypoglycemia and impending insulin shock in her client. She called EMS and literally saved the client’s life because of the information she learned from In the Know!”

Beth R. at Bellamy Fields Assisted Living: “Our CNAs had poor documentation skills–and were even using ‘White Out’! We purchased In the Know’s inservice, ‘Reporting & Documenting Client Care’, and made it a requirement for every nursing assistant. Their documentation has improved significantly!”

Wouldn’t you like to see measurable results like these from your inservice program? You can! Start developing top-notch CNAs today by creating your own library of In the Know inservices.

If your budget is tight, start with one key inservice that addresses a specific aspect of client care that you’d like to improve. We also offer special discounts when you buy three, six, nine or twelve inservices.

And, be sure to download our FREE inservice, Customer Service in Health Care. Many of our customers have noted a measurable increase in both employee and patient satisfaction after presenting this inservice to their nursing assistants. So, take action today and start seeing measurable results tomorrow!

Happy Teaching,
Linda Leekley BS, RN