We're HAPI to Have You: Retention of Skin Assessment Team Members at a Magnet Designated Academic Medical Center

Introduction

A quality improvement project led to the creation of a SKIN (Surface, Keep moving, Incontinence, and Nutrition) Assessment Team in 2012. This team educates front line staff and performs NDNQI surveys. Participation dwindled with the announcement that more responsibilities would be added to the SKIN team, including surveillance of sister units on survey days and monthly in lieu of quarterly surveys. Several veteran members expressed disillusionment and a desire to quit.

Purpose

Our SKIN Team is an integral part of our Pressure Injury Prevention efforts. As healthcare looks towards quality outcomes as a measure of success (and reimbursement), retention of this team is paramount.

Methods

An awards ceremony was held to show appreciation for these members. This was an on-boarding technique to retain a strong, consistent SKIN team.

Hospital leadership was in attendance and gave speeches lauding the SKIN team. Awards were given to three Most Improved Units (units with the biggest drop in NDNQI HAPI percentage over 8 quarters), four individuals who demonstrated “Outstanding Commitment to Pressure Injury Prevention” (judged by attendance, length of time on the team, and their unit based education projects) and a Practice Innovation Research Award. Longstanding members of the SKIN Team were also recognized.

Outcomes

Attendance was at an all-time high for the party, with 35 members attending, up from an average of 22 members during our previous quarterly meetings 2016. A write up of the event was featured in a hospital wide newspaper and the weekly broadcast from the CEO. This will be an annual event for members.

Conclusion

The SKIN Team will only grow in its importance as quality measures and the prevention of Hospital Acquired Conditions (HACs) becomes how hospital systems are reimbursed. Showing members that they are valued goes a long way in retention of talent.