Nursing

Evidence-based expert: Support and develop critical thinking skills in new hires

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, February 20, 2009

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This week's expert, Shelley Cohen, RN, BS, CEN, identifies ways preceptors can educate other nursing staff on supporting and developing critical thinking skills in new hires.

Q: As a preceptor, how can I educate staff on supporting new hires critical thinking skills?

A: Sometimes nursing staff, other than the preceptor, may be working with the orientee. During these times, it is essential that the preceptor educate all staff on the importance of their role in assisting with the transition process of the newly hired nurse.

The following are tips preceptors can share with other staff to encourage their understanding and support for developing new employees’ critical thinking:

  • Know that faster is not clinically better. Does it really matter—in many situations—if it takes new hires a few minutes longer to get in the IV? Yes, you could have done it faster, but how fast did you do it when you were a new nurse?
  • Check things off for a new hire. If you are asked to check off a new hire on a skill, be sure you actually observed the performance of this skill.
  • Involve new hires in challenging patient scenarios. This will help increase the experience of the new hire, as well as help the team identify the new hire’s willingness to learn.
  • Make sure new hires know where to find resources. When questions arise, do new employees’ know where to look for the answers? For example, if a new hire is not sure whether a permit is needed for a procedure, does he or she know where to find the information?

For more critical thinking articles, check out "Surviving skill sets with a competency fair."

Have a question for our evidence-based experts? Be a part of our new feature by emailing your queries to Editor Cameran Erny at cerny@hcpro.com. See your name in print and get the answers you’re looking for.



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