VA Learning Opportunities Residency (VALOR) Program: Success at Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO)

1. VA Learning Opportunities Residency (VALOR) Program: Success at Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO)

2. Presentation Overview Objectives and Content • Identify recruitment and retention challenges • Discuss current trends and challenges • Define the clinical question • Discuss the perceived benefits of the VALOR program • Discuss the VALOR program process and other similar programs • Discuss at length: Requirements, process and Implementation • Discuss program outcomes for VHSO • Discuss benefits to VHSO, students and current staff

3. Recruitment and Retention trends and challenges Recruitment and Retention of nurses continue to dominate discussion Institutions such as VA, the University Health System Consortium (UHC) and the American Association college of Nursing have worked to develop strategies that would address the nursing shortage and or recruitment and retention of nurses.

4. Recruitment and Retention trends and challenges (cont) Research addresses the preparation for clinical practice of the new graduate Nurse  A study by Casey and Fink(JONA) found that new graduate nurses have difficulty adjusting to their roles in the acute care setting A study by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (2002) found that health care employees newly licensed RNs are not fully prepared to perform common task

5. Perceived benefits of the VALOR and similar programs Improve Job Satisfaction Reduce Turnover Enhance skills critical to patient safety

6. Perceived benefits of the VALOR and similar programs Develop effective decision-making skills related to clinical judgment and performance. Be able to provide clinical leadership at the point of patient care Strengthen their commitment to nursing as a professional career choice Be able to incorporate research-based evidence into their practice

7. Requirements, processes and Implementation Among the many duties of the VA Health System, none is more important that providing the best care to those who served. This consistent commitment to this philosophy has helped VA to steadily improve to the point where VA holds a position of World Leadership in patient safety and quality assurance.

8. Requirements, processes and Implementation HRRO (Healthcare Recruitment and Retention Office): serves to promote the retention of our health care professionals and enhance the recruitment of highly qualified health care professionals. HRRO is a special programs office of VHA that provides support in the retention and recruitment of health care professionals by providing programs such as VALOR.

9. Requirements, processes and Implementation cont Nursing VALOR program Application Guidelines for VA Facility: 1. The proposal and content a. Description of facility’s recruitment and retention difficulties. b. Description of facility clinical strengths c. Outline of the didactic and clinical educational plan. d. Evaluation plan for the VALOR program. e. Number of Nursing VALOR program students. f. Curriculum vitae for the program administrator. g. Letter of endorsement from facility Director.

10. Requirements, processes and Implementation cont Recruitment and appointment of students 1. VALOR Coordinator reports number of approved positions. 2. VALOR information sent to local BSN nursing schools.

11. Requirements, processes and Implementation cont Recruitment and appointment of students cont 3. Applications received from potential students that meet all requirements. a. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 b. Able to complete a minimum of 400 hours c. Be a US citizen d. No service obligation to any Federal, state or private institution

12. Requirements, processes and Implementation cont • Recruitment and appointment of students cont 4. What to submit with your Application packet for VALOR student: • Statement from your university stating you are in good academic standing (Letter from school stating enrollment, estimate graduation date, and grade point average). • Resume • Copy of Transcript. • Letter of recommendation from your Dean of the Nursing Program. • Three professional references. • 10-2850c (application)  • NOTE: Have completed the final semester or quarter of the junior year or start of the senior year

13. Requirements, processes and Implementation cont Recruitment and appointment of students 4. Interview panel selected to interview students. 5. Mentors/preceptors at VA are selected for each student.

14. Requirements, processes and Implementation cont VHSO Mentoring program 1. Is part of the VHA’s succession Planning Model. 2. Offers the VA a resourceful process for transferring knowledge. 3. Requirement for VALOR mentor/preceptor FY 13.

15. Requirements, processes and Implementation cont VHSO Mentoring program major topics are: 1. Ethics 2. Powerful Questioning 3. Active Deep Listening 4. Direct Communication 5. Building Trust 6. Personal Mastery 7. Practice Sessions

16. Benefits to students, staff and VHSO • Benefits: 1. VHSO grows their own 2. Cost effective 3. Students: • Improvement in confidence • Competence • Ability to organize and prioritize • Communication • Leadership • Reduction in stress level

17. Questions