Totally Kids Rehabilitation Hospital announced an in-house education and training program designed to provide nurses the information, tools, support, and assurances they need to bloom in their own careers while helping each patient thrive to the best of their abilities.
“The fields of medicine and healthcare are constantly evolving, and knowledge is a powerful tool in helping nurses build on their clinical skills and advance their own abilities to deliver safe and dependable patient care,” said Pauline Hennessey, vice president of rehabilitation, child development, and education. “The education and training program we offer our nurses -- those new to the profession or just new to our organization -- helps prepare them for their clinical journey through a curriculum of hands-on learning driven by best practices and real-world experiences.”
The training program for RNs and LVNs at Totally Kids includes 40 hours of preceptor supervision covering such topics as neurological dysfunctions, infection control, pediatric airway management, respiratory care for the bedside nurse, and ventilator management. It also includes an overview of ancillary departments with department leaders (pharmacy, recreation therapy, child development, nutritional service, and rehab services), skills check assessments in a variety of clinical areas, and an overview of both the patient population and the clinical equipment available at Totally Kids.
Additionally, and consistent with a portion of the population at Totally Kids, these nurses experience 15 hours of specialized education as it applies to the care of a chronically ill child. Starting with a review of the most common diagnosis at Totally Kids, topics covered include the role of the rehab nurse, prematurity and its potential complications, infant safety, growth and development, and family dynamics.
Education and training, including an eight-hour of preceptor orientation day and five days of orientation on the subacute unit, are also available for certified nursing assistants joining Totally Kids.
“The unique environment we create for each child at Totally Kids is realized by the clinical excellence and the high degree of tenderness and love shown by our entire staff,” says Hennessey. “The training program that we offer our nurses helps them feel comfortable and at home here as they work in a collaborative manner to enrich the health and quality of life of all of our patients and to inspire children to gain the skills, capabilities, and confidence they need to achieve their greatest potential.”
In keeping with its commitment to clinical excellence, Totally Kids has developed a recognition program that acknowledges and rewards its nurses for the increased skills they build. The hospital also has a Clinical Advancement Program available to all full-time nurses after just one year of employment and offers all clinical staff monthly in-services that can apply toward their CEU requirements when renewing their clinical license.
About Totally Kids
For more than 50 years Totally Kids has been a national leader in providing personalized rehabilitation and habilitation services for children with a family-centered emphasis. Programs include acute pediatric rehabilitation, subacute and residential intermediate care, and an innovative “Totally Infants Program” specialty created for the care of infants who are ready to transition from an NICU but not yet ready to go home. Totally Kids has repeatedly been awarded the Gold Seal of Approval by the Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. For further information visit totallykids.com.