Taj Tahers One Minute Goal

Goal: Minimize the amount of time Prep-Steps spend idle on the floor.
Reason
There are a number of understandable reasons why a Prep-Step may find him or herself without a
task to perform. During night shifts especially, patients tend to not require as much attention or
fall asleep, and nurses focus more on charting. However, even then Prep-Steps should not stand
around without anything to do for more than five minutes. It is a disservice to the patients,
Swedish, and the Prep-Step himself when the potential for service, experience, and learning is
wasted. While it is true that placing Prep-Steps in such situations can bolster proactivity, these
swaths of idleness should not constitute a large portion of the shift. Amending this issue will
require a refocus on the Prep-Steps purpose on the floor from the perspective of the patient care
team. The hope is that this will result in Prep-Steps being more engaged on the floor and being
utilized more effectively, which will consequently create an improved care environment for
patients. As this undertaking will involve a deal of planning, organization, and clear
communication, this will provide me an experience to enhance those areas of professionalism.
Method
1. Review Prep-Step scope of practice. Confirm all the skills that we can and cannot
perform, especially those that we can under supervision (idleness related to skills not
requiring supervision rests on the individual Prep-Steps ability to be proactive).
2. Arrange a meeting with the Nurse Manager to review our scope of practice. Come to an
agreement on what Prep-Steps are trying to achieve, and what responsibilities can be
established for them.
3. Coordinate with the Nurse Manager in order to disseminate details regarding the
discussion to the nursing staff.
4. Make the list of Prep-Step duties falling inside and outside the scope of practice readily
available, visible, and widespread.
5. Communicate with Prep-Steps. Find out what each person hopes to experience and learn
from the program. Find out why they Prep-Step.
6. Post fliers on the floor detailing what Prep-Steps want out of the experience. Emphasize
that we are students, and every experience counts. Nursing staff should not feel they have
to go out of their way to engage Prep-Steps, but in a way that aligns with their schedule
and responsibilities.
7. Evaluate. Ask Prep-Steps if idleness has decreased. Ask Nurse Manager/nursing staff if
implementation of plan has incurred any burden. Consider possible readjustments.
Time
I would assume that this would be an on-going process since it must be adjusted as it is
implemented and refined. As such, there is no deadline, but it should be carried out within a
smaller time frame and diligently. Steps 1 and 2 should be completed before the start of the new
rotation, with Steps 3 and 4 rolled out during the first week of the new rotation as Prep-Steps
arrive. Step 5 should be completed by the third or fourth week in order to allow Prep-Steps
appropriate time to become accustomed to the floor and consider their personal stake in the
program. Step 6 should be implemented as soon as Step 5 is complete. Step 7, evaluation of the
goals outcome, would occur during the halfway point of the rotation, week six. Readjustments
should continue throughout the remainder of the rotation as needed.