RESUMO
Morbid obesity continues to be a growing problem in the United States. Between 1997 and 2003, the number of U.S. hospitals offering bariatric surgery has nearly tripled. Confronted with increasing demands for bariatric surgery, competency of nursing staff caring for the bariatric surgery patient has emerged as a key area of focus. This article highlights the innovative creation and implementation of a bariatric surgery competency program that would meet the competency standards for a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence.
Assuntos
Cirurgia Bariátrica/enfermagem , Recursos Humanos de Enfermagem Hospitalar/educação , Desenvolvimento de Pessoal , Instrução por Computador , Humanos , Meio-Oeste dos Estados Unidos , Desenvolvimento de Programas , Avaliação de Programas e Projetos de SaúdeRESUMO
Nurses' ability to practice is constantly challenged by changes in equipment, staffing, acuity, time constraints, and requirements of regulatory agencies. This article highlights an innovative approach to validate competency of registered nurses in a 380-bed hospital in the Midwest. Confronted with increasing demands to validate competency on high-priority issues, as well as in areas of high risk, educators developed a plan to verify competency by using an observed performance format. Although the specific competency was pain management, this prototype can be used for validation of other high-risk or high-profile competencies.