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Keywords
Nursing Resource Team, education, staffing shortages, Float pool
Disciplines
Nursing
Description
The Nursing Resource Team (NRT) is a vital division within William Beaumont University Hospital that allows both nurses and nursing support staff to float between all units of the organization, thus bridging staffing shortages and optimizing patient care outcomes. Because of their widespread deployment throughout the facility, it can be challenging to ensure that all NRT staff members receive adequate education and are informed of new rollouts. The NRT education team has worked diligently to mitigate this barrier, knowing that it is vital for the success of the team. “Float pool nurses are in a unique position to observe practices across multiple units or microsystems. This facilitates learning and sharing of best practices from one unit to the next…” (Straw, 2018, p.32).
Keeping this philosophy in mind, in April of 2025, the NRT education team trialed three different education delivery methods to determine how to best disperse information to staff. The methods consisted of virtual information dispersal via email, small classroom focus groups, and 1:1 education on the units through “rolling in-services”. Staff members were asked a series of standardized questions after each method, to prove whether the method was helpful in their understanding of new content.
Based on the results of the standardized questions, the NRT education team discovered that the best means of providing education to the float pool staff members is via “rolling in-services”. This education design focuses on “meeting the nurses where they are”, and bringing educational tools, flyers, and competency checklists to the units in which they have been deployed. “Float pool nurses need to feel valued; taking time to visit each nurse provides a personal and professional connection” (Straw, 2018, p.34). During the “rolling in-services”, NRT staff were also able to ask questions in real time, develop a rapport with their team leaders, and felt that less time was taken away from their busy day on the unit.
Publication Date
5-2025
Recommended Citation
Young S, Agrusa E. An innovative approach: educational rounds. Presented at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital; 2025 May 6-12; Royal Oak, MI.
Comments
Nurses Week at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, May 6-12, 2025.