Pressure Ulcer Education and Staff Development- Improving Success with Peers Teachng Peers

Pressure ulcer education and staff development have historically been the responsibility of the WOC RN within the roles of clinical expert and educator. Education methodology utilized in the training of staff nurses often relies on lectures, powerpoints, self learning packets, lunch and learns, on line training and case studies but is often a difficult endeavor overburdening the limited resources of the WOC RN, especially with constant educational opportunities often being identified, staff learning needs during orientation, yearly competeny training and changing evidenced based practice updates. The objective was to develop and educate skin wound assessment teams (SWAT) to function in the role of unit based skin champions who would provide peer to peer bedside assistance with pressure ulcer education.It was demonstrated over a period of three years, improved patient care outcomes , greater staff engagement and recognition, and the ability to communicate and translate education from Expert (WOC RN) to Competent/Proficient (SWAT RN) to Novice (Staff RN) using Benner's Nursing theory.