Error loading player: No playable sources found

P059

Ready, Set, Skill!! Bridging Training Gaps One Fair at a Time


The Central Coast clinics face unique challenges when it comes to validating the skills of newly hired medical assistants (MAs). With our standard ambulatory care day 2 skills validation sessions held at the Westwood campus—approximately 170 miles from the farthest clinic and 60 miles from the closest—many new hires struggle to attend, leading to gaps in hands-on training. Additionally, finding qualified candidates from accredited programs has been an ongoing issue, with many new staff lacking experience or phlebotomy certification, further complicating their onboarding process.
The solution: a 3-day, immersive skills fair: To bridge this training gap and ensure new hires are set up for success, ambulatory care nursing has organized a specialized 3-day skills fair tailored specifically for the Central Coast clinics. This hands-on event features dedicated competency stations covering critical skills such as phlebotomy and specimen collection, medication administration, emergency management, rooming-in and vital signs, point-of-care testing, 12-lead EKG and ear lavage, oxygen administration, nebulized medication and peak flow measurement, audiometry and vision screening, and procedure tray set-up. Each station is led by experienced RN practice coordinators providing real-time guidance and feedback. This interactive format allows staff to build confidence and proficiency in a supportive environment, ensuring they meet the necessary clinical standards.
A collaborative effort supported by leadership: The skills fair is backed by clinic leadership, who recognize the need for a localized, standardized approach to training. By bringing this event directly to the Central Coast, we reduce travel barriers, accelerate onboarding, and enhance patient safety.
Looking ahead: creating a sustainable solution: Ambulatory care nursing is actively exploring long-term strategies to ensure ongoing skills validation for new hires, including leveraging technology: remote assessments and virtual skills training; dedicated support: assigning an RN practice coordinator specifically for the Central Coast region; and consistent training opportunities: offering skills fairs on a more regular basis to maintain a high level of staff competency.
Impact: empowering our staff, enhancing patient care: The Central Coast Clinics skills fair is more than just a training event; it's a commitment to support our new hires, enhance their clinical skills, and ensure the highest quality of patient care. Through this collaborative effort, we’re setting the stage for long-term improvements in staff development, competency validation, and retention across the region.

Learning Objective

  • After completing this learning activity, the participant will be able to assess innovations being used by other professionals in the specialty and evaluate the potential of implementing the improvements into practice.

Speakers

Speaker Image for Adisa Cartwright
Adisa Cartwright, MSN, RN, FNP-BC

Related Products

Thumbnail for Special Rapid-Fire Sessions
Special Rapid-Fire Sessions
"Joining the Forces" to Standardize Education and Training Processes for 470 Multispecialty Clinics within a Large Healthcare Organization
Thumbnail for Reaching and Teaching: Nursing Professional Development in the Outpatient Arena
Reaching and Teaching: Nursing Professional Development in the Outpatient Arena
CONTINUING EDUCATION INSTRUCTIONS AND DISCLOSURE INFORMATION:
Thumbnail for Medical Assistant Rapid-Fire Sessions
Medical Assistant Rapid-Fire Sessions
In these short rapid-fire presentations, multiple speakers highlight approaches to managing issues related to medical assistants in the practice environment…
Thumbnail for Implementation of a Formal Training Program for Endoscopy Teams: Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Practice
Implementation of a Formal Training Program for Endoscopy Teams: Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Practice
Background: Cultures centered around patient safety in high-reliability healthcare institutions are important and can positively influence staff job satisfaction and patient. More than 14 million colonoscopies are completed annually in the United States…
Privacy Policy Update: We value your privacy and want you to understand how your information is being used. To make sure you have current and accurate information about this sites privacy practices please visit the privacy center by clicking here.