Ana Bandin and Jenna Klareich
Nicklaus Children's Hospital, USA
Title: Short, sweet, teach and repeat: A competency-based skills fair
Biography
Biography: Ana Bandin and Jenna Klareich
Abstract
Statement of the Problem: Achieving effective nursing education lies in addressing everyone’s learning needs while having students partake in their learning. The literature supports, skills fairs as significant way of validating competencies. Skills fairs are a way to reinforce practice guidelines and add new knowledge. The clinical educator team established the need to develop competency-based learning through a skill fair. The purpose of this skill fair was to increase the knowledge-base of nurses with varied experiences across the point of care, through a nonconventional learning opportunity, which standardized care delivery in medical surgical units.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Skills chosen for the fair were based on a needs- assessment evaluation and common medical surgical skills. The 12 skills stations introduced were: Blood administration, quality indicators, wound care, intravenous access care, sepsis screening, chest tube care, tracheostomy care, pain management, infection prevention, medication administration, feeding tube care, regulatory agency, and code cart review. Pretests and post-tests were administered to all attendees. A passport was provided as a roadmap ensuring attendance at each skill stations. Upon completion, the completed passport entered a raffle. Visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles were captured. Vendors were available to inform attendees about professional development opportunities. Feedback by way of evaluations, helped to clarify unclear points and share experiences.
Findings: From 200 attendees, pretest average was 74%. Post-test average was 90% showing knowledge retention. Three post-tests have showed monthly increase of knowledge retention at 89%, 90% and 92%. Pre-event self-knowledge increased from 78% to 94%. Satisfaction showed an average of 4.1 on a 1-5 scale.
Conclusion & Significance: Competency-based learning with skills fairs, benefits nursing practice and standardizes care. Findings demonstrated knowledge retention and event satisfaction. Competency-based learning with skills fairs enhances care delivery by improving skill sets for a more competent nurse in today’s evolving healthcare system.