Innovation in Education: Reaching Staff at the Bedside

Education, simply put, is only effective if the presentation meets the needs of the audience.  Today’s complex health care system demands that bedside nurses expertly assess and deliver care in an expeditious, evidence based manner.  As health care continues to evolve to meet the diverse needs of the population, new systems of continuing education must also evolve.  The Dermal Defense Team at a suburban community hospital and trauma center has devised such an educational system.  The team itself is comprised of staff members from all hospital units, including the operating room, emergency department, nutrition, respiratory therapy, and physical therapy.  This team of dermal defense champions engages staff yearly in a Dermal Defense Education Day.  During this twelve hour event, the team members use interactive learning strategies to engage staff members.  In addition, this team meets monthly to conduct prevalence and incidence studies.  Along with this activity, team members actively engage staff in an educational activity, using the “tip of the month”.  These tips have been focused on staff requests for additional information regarding bariatric patients, proper positioning of patients, and preventive strategies among others.  Additionally, theses champions for best practices related to skin and wound care, serve as experts for bedside consultation by their peers on a daily basis.  Their expertise is sought by bedside practitioners, bolstering the practice of the certified wound, ostomy, and continence nurse.  This “at the bedside” approach encourages all staff to become aware of and engage in best practice.  Physicians and other providers actively seek their involvement in the care of patients most at risk for pressure ulcer development.  They indeed personify the Chinese proverb, “Tell me and I may forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I may understand”.