The biggest myth in neurodiagnostics: "We don’t need an educator!"

Picture this: Joint Commission is due to stop by any day now and you are frantically scrambling to figure out if your department is in compliance. You are quizzing everyone on RACE and PASS, the dry time for antimicrobial wipes, and auditing the team’s hand hygiene. Nice work!

But there is an often overlooked area of compliance lurking - competencies.

Many neurodiagnostic labs are currently operating out of compliance with The Joint Commission’s rules. You can hope that JC doesn’t stop by the lab, or you can do something about it! One of the facets of a clinical educator’s role is precisely preparing for this scenario.

This is just one example of the many ways a well trained clinical educator can assist in a neurodiagnostic lab. In fact, there are so many benefits to having a clinical educator that nearly every nursing unit has one. One of the core tenants of nursing is evidence based practice, and the evidence for clinical educators is strong.

Let’s take a look at some of the documented benefits of having a clinical educator.

Benefit #1 - Enhanced retention and job satisfaction

Happy employees and low turnover? Sounds like wishful thinking? Think again! Clinical educators are catalysts for increased job satisfaction and staff retention rates. From studies showing how effective preceptors increase retention (Watkins 2016), or how Methodist Hospital in Texas reduced new RN graduate turnover from 50% to 13% by strengthening their post-graduate education (Tart 2007), to a systematic review and meta-analysis documenting how educational interventions increase RN job satisfaction (Niskala 2020), the proof is in the pudding, strong education programs can make employees happier and want to stay.

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"Methodist Hospital in Texas reduced new RN graduate turnover from 50% to 13% by strengthening their post-graduate education"

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Benefit #2 - Improved patient outcomes

When it comes to patient care, knowledge and skills are the name of the game. That's where a clinical educator shines. Well structured educational interventions have been shown to improve patient safety (De Rezende 2022; Bedgood 2021) and make economic sense (Slawomirski 2017)."

"education plays an integral role in creating a culture of safety" – Bedgood and Mellott 2021

Benefit #3 - Better compliance and regulatory adherence

Compliance is the name of the game in healthcare, and clinical educators are your ultimate allies. They ensure that your team is up to speed with regulatory standards, guidelines, and best practices. Picture this: a systematic review by Bunting and Klerk (2022) underlined the pivotal role of clinical educators in meeting accreditation requirements and mitigating compliance risks. By integrating comprehensive compliance training into your educational programs, these educators safeguard your lab's reputation, build trust, and prioritize patient safety.

Benefit #4 - Increased staff competency

Your lab's success hinges on the competence of your staff. Clinical educators possess a unique ability to develop and refine the clinical competencies of healthcare professionals. But don’t just take my word for it, a study from Peters and colleges (2017) highlighted some of the transformative impacts of clinical education on staff competency, clinical reasoning, and critical thinking skills. Imagine the sense of satisfaction knowing your team is competent.

Benefit #5 - Facilitation of interprofessional collaboration

Teamwork makes the dream work, right? Well, clinical educators are the ultimate champions of interprofessional collaboration. They excel at breaking down silos and fostering effective teamwork and sharing of knowledge. Envision EEG techs, RNs, and MDs working together truly synergistically in the EMU.

Take action!

The truth is, a well-trained clinical educator can be the missing piece in achieving improving patient outcomes, increasing staff happiness and retention, ensuring staff competency and regulatory adherence.

Whether you're looking to build your own education program or need assistance with specific tasks on a contract basis, I am here to help. With my expertise and experience in neurodiagnostics, I can guide you in creating a comprehensive education plan tailored to your lab's needs. Together, we can bridge the gaps in compliance, elevate staff competency, and create a culture of collaboration and excellence.

So, don't wait for Joint Commission to catch you off guard. Take charge of your lab's success by investing in a clinical educator. Contact me today to explore how my consulting services can transform your neurodiagnostic lab and save your most precious resource, time. Let's make compliance and excellence the pillars of your lab's journey.

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References

Bedgood, Amie L. MSN, RN, CNE; Mellott, Susan PhD, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, FNAHQ. The Role of Education in Developing a Culture of Safety Through the Perceptions of Undergraduate Nursing Students: An Integrative Literature Review. Journal of Patient Safety 17(8):p e1530-e1536, December 2021. | DOI: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000548

Bunting J, de Klerk M. Strategies to Improve Compliance with Clinical Nursing Documentation Guidelines in the Acute Hospital Setting: A Systematic Review and Analysis. SAGE Open Nurs. 2022;8:23779608221075165. Published 2022 Feb 14. doi:10.1177/23779608221075165

De Rezende H, Vitorio AMF, Morais AS, et al Effectiveness of educational interventions to develop patient safety knowledge, skills, behaviours and attitudes in undergraduate nursing students: a systematic review protocol BMJ Open 2022;12:e058888. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058888

Peters S, Clarebout G, Diemers A, et al. Enhancing the connection between the classroom and the clinical workplace: A systematic review. Perspect Med Educ. 2017;6(3):148-157. doi:10.1007/s40037-017-0338-0

Slawomirski, L., A. Auraaen and N. Klazinga (2017), "The economics of patient safety: Strengthening a value-based approach to reducing patient harm at national level", OECD Health Working Papers, No. 96, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/5a9858cd-en.

Tart, K. (2007). Return on Investment: Benefits and ChaUenges of a Baccalauieate Nurse Residency Program. Nursing Economics, 25(1).

van Diggele, C., Roberts, C., Burgess, A. et al. Interprofessional education: tips for design and implementation. BMC Med Educ 20 (Suppl 2), 455 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02286-z

Watkins C, Hart PL, Mareno N. The effect of preceptor role effectiveness on newly licensed registered nurses' perceived psychological empowerment and professional autonomy. Nurse Educ Pract. 2016;17:36-42. doi:10.1016/j.nepr.2016.02.003