Click-Through Competence: How Do We Fit It All In?

Fitting Education into Our Maxed-Out Schedules 

Dear Healthcare Professionals and Educators,

In this edition of the Rescue RN Newsletter, we delve into the complex world of training and education within healthcare. How do we ensure that our training methods keep pace with the demands of modern healthcare environments? How do we address gaps in education without overwhelming new hires or existing staff?

The Challenge of Comprehensive Training

The traditional approach of cramming all necessary training into orientation sessions or annual competencies is becoming increasingly untenable. As healthcare evolves, so must our methods of preparing our professionals. 

It's not just about completing modules; it's about truly understanding and mastering the skills necessary to provide top-notch care.

The training gap in healthcare is a complex issue that weighs heavily on the system itself. From day one, orientation is packed to the brim, followed by unit-based training, then an event happens, and leadership demands new training to address it, pushing other priorities aside.

Hospital educators are constantly racing to keep up, balancing the need for comprehensive education with the realities of time constraints. The struggle of "When will they complete this?" or "How do we ensure that just completing a module means they are competent?" is real and relentless.

Moving Beyond Click-Through Competence

We often rely on online modules that require hours of clicking through slides, but does this guarantee competence? 

Can we confidently say that once the last module is clicked, a staff member is fully prepared to handle the complexities of their role? 

It's time to question these assumptions and explore more dynamic training delivery methods.

Engaging and Effective Training Methods

The need for engaging, effective, and proactive education is clear. Spaced learning, which involves breaking down information into manageable chunks and spacing it out over time, has shown great promise. This approach makes the learning process more digestible and more retainable. But the challenge remains: how do we keep learners engaged? In an era with shorter attention spans, finding ways to deliver quick yet comprehensive training is crucial.

Hands-On Training - A Non-Negotiable Component

At CodePRep, we emphasize the importance of hands-on training—a component I am committed to maintaining. Despite its logistical challenges, the value of real, tactile learning experiences cannot be overstated. This type of training ensures that knowledge is not only understood but also applied in practical settings.

Adapting Training to Meet Demand

As demand for certain types of training increases, we must be agile enough to adapt our offerings. If there's a high request volume for specific programs like CodePRep, it's a clear indicator of what healthcare professionals find valuable. We must listen to these cues and adjust our training strategies accordingly.

A Call to Innovate in Education

The way forward involves a balanced approach that combines digital and hands-on training methods tailored to the needs of the healthcare workforce. It's about creating educational experiences that are as dynamic and complex as the environments in which healthcare professionals operate.

Let's commit to evolving our educational strategies to provide the tools necessary for success in the healthcare trade. It's not just about fitting training into busy schedules—it's about making training work for the people who need it most.

Warm regards,

Susan Davis DNP

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Let's transform healthcare education to empower our teams with the knowledge and skills they need to excel.