Nursing Year in Review 2019 | Page 19

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP New ‘Clinical Learning Center’ Helps Enhance On-Shift Education In early 2018, Rachel Whittaker, MSN, RN-BC, CPN, Clinical Education Specialist for the 09 Medical Unit, and Jessica Perdue, MSN, RN-BC, CPN, Clinical Education Specialist for the 08 Medical Unit, recognized the need for a designated Clinical Learning Center for clinical nurses. At the time, 08 Medical and 09 Medical Inpatient Units used treatment rooms to practice skills and conduct on-shift learning. But the spaces weren’t ideal for many reasons, including the fact that they were shared spaces that weren’t set up for privacy and optimal learning. In April 2018, Rachel and Jessica made a formal recommendation to Sarah Baca, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA- BC, for a designated Clinical Learning Center. Sarah was in support, and they worked together to design a survey to collect the thoughts of other clinical nurses. Survey feedback was positive. The west-side treatment room on the 09 Medical Inpatient Unit became the new Clinical Learning Center, and it opened in August 2018, complete with all resources Sarah and Jessica needed to provide real-time support and education to clinical nurses. RACHEL WHITTAKER, MSN, RN-BC, CPN Clinical Education Specialist SARAH BACA, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC Patient Care Services Director JESSICA PERDUE, MSN, RN-BC, CPN Clinical Education Specialist 2019 Nursing Year in Review