Phoenix nurses complete mandatory annual competencies

Nurses don’t often look forward to completing their mandatory annual competencies, but the nurses at Carl T. Hayden VA in Phoenix have had a reason to get excited for theirs for the past three years now.

This year, the Medicine and Surgical Specialty Clinics competencies for nurses looked more like a Mexican Fiesta than a training environment. The fun and festive atmosphere is exactly what made this year’s Medicine and Surgical Specialty Clinic’s 3rd Annual Competency Skills Fair in March such a resounding success.

“I developed the skills fairs in this format to provide education in an innovative manner,” said Surgical Specialty Clinics Educator Regina Ward. “I developed a model where employees complete didactic education in clinical skills in advance and then attend the skills fair to practice hands on skills.”

The positive results from Ward’s program can be seen in how quickly this training was completed. The nurses were eager to attend each skills station and there was an immediate increase in staff morale after attending the skills fair.

“One of the best I have attended anywhere.”

The Medicine and Surgical Specialty Clinics will be finished five months early for fiscal year 2023. Nurses attending the skills fair enjoyed the festive decorations and smiles.

“This skills fair was one of the best I have attended anywhere and I have worked in several hospitals in the valley,” said Nurse Stephanie Kristofic, Department of Endocrinology. “Dr. Ward and her team made a required competency fun, interactive and entertaining.”

At the core of this Mexican Fiesta are the very serious and required competencies skills that nurses must possess in order to offer the best possible care to patients.

Ward worked with Medicine Clinics Educator Nurse Ingrid Alvarado-Saenz to extend the reach of this format for completing competencies.

Nurses evaluated on required competencies

In addition to mandatory training modules, nurses must complete hands-on training for handwashing, suicide prevention, and lift equipment. The annual competencies are selected through collaboration with frontline nurses, educators, managers, and executive nurse leaders.

Nurses were evaluated on the required competencies by demonstrating these skills. According to Alvarado-Saenz, the fiesta environment helped reduce nervousness and anxiety.

“Since they have already learned these skills, this helps them relax, recall, and demonstrate what they have learned,” said Alvarado-Saenz. “They get evaluated on the skills they have learned.”

“I have been doing nursing for 30 plus years, mostly in the private sector,” said Podiatry Clinic Nurse Anthony Aulicino. “The traditional approach is you are given a particular skill and you have to perform it, and in some cases teach it.”

Aulicino feels the process of learning on your own before-hand and having an interactive atmosphere that has a personal touch in a stress-free environment increases retention.

Support from many staff volunteers

This year’s Fiesta Competency Skills Fair brought staff together from 22 clinics and evaluated six competencies. More than 70 employees participated.

Ward is very appreciative of all the support from the managers who allowed nurses to volunteer and to all the registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and nurse assistant volunteers.

For Ward, each year’s fair is a team effort. “There will be another skills fair next year. I haven’t decided on a theme yet.”

Ward says there is already talk that next year the skills fair may grow beyond the confines of the specialty clinics to the entire Phoenix VA Health Care System, including PACT Clinics.

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