How Implementing a Digital Competency Management System Reduced Nurse Training Cost and Improved NPD Practitioner Satisfaction in a Pediatric Hospital.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Traditional competency evaluations and manual tracking created a problem within one organization. Subjective competency assessments and inconsistent recordkeeping resulted in increased organizational costs. These factors increased the workload of nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners, leading to job dissatisfaction and turnover. METHOD: The project lead evaluated how implementing a digital competency management system (CMS) affected nurse training costs and assessed NPD practitioners' satisfaction after the digital CMS conversion. RESULTS: A cost analysis compared training costs before and after implementation of a digital CMS. A pre- and postsurvey compared NPD practitioners' satisfaction before and after digital implementation. A digital CMS provided a centralized repository and educational platform, which saved $500,000 in training costs and increased NPD practitioners' job satisfaction by decreasing workload and creating meaningful mechanisms to accurately assess staff knowledge and skills. CONCLUSION: The NPD practitioners showed tangible outcome measures and return on investment by combining adult learning and technology. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(5)239-245.].