BIC Trend

maintain transparency , ensure fairness across the team and consider the impact on patient care .

5 . Provide cross-training for nurses You need nurses to be more versatile and adaptable , especially during staffing shortages . Here ’ s how you can effectively implement cross-training programs :

• Identify target clinical areas where cross-training would be most beneficial based on patient acuity , staffing needs and the skill sets of existing nurses .

• Develop training and education plans for each target area . These plans should outline the learning objectives , required competencies ,

“ You may have nurses fresh out of nursing school who have no experience in the ICU taking care of three patients on ventilators . You may have to cut corners and you ’ re going to have to sacrifice certain aspects of care because there ’ s no other option .”

— Christine Dean , MSN , RN , Medline Medical Science Liaison . training duration and evaluation methods .

• Assign experienced nurses as mentors to guide cross-training nurses through the learning process . This hands-on approach ensures practical learning and allows for immediate feedback .

• Increase clinical experience by allowing cross-training nurses to spend time in target clinical areas , observing and participating in patient care activities under the supervision of experienced nurses . Gradually increase their responsibilities as their skills improve .

• Develop clear competency criteria that cross-training nurses must meet before working independently in new clinical areas . This assessment ensures that they can provide safe and effective care .

6 . Take advantage of your medical supply partnership In addition to providing essential medical equipment and supplies , your medical supplier

Top

Safety Concerns in 2023

Preventable harm due to omitted care or treatment

may offer resources to help reduce omissions of care .

You and your facility can benefit from :

• Assessments : Your supply partner gathers insights on your facility ’ s clinical practice and product utilization , uncovering gaps and opportunities to build on your successes . A well-performed discovery assessment delivers measurable results , which can be turned into action-based recommendations . You and your partner collaborate to ensure a seamless rollout by onboarding caregivers with proper protocols , targeted education programs and comprehensive product in-servicing .

• Education and training : Your staff receives training and education on the proper use of equipment and supplies . In addition , clinicians check in with you on a regular basis to help keep caregivers engaged and motivated through a variety of touch points , such as ex- pert-led webinars , downloadable posters and in-person or virtual training .

• Customized solutions : You and your partner collaborate on customized supply plans , such as bundles , based on your facility ’ s specific needs and patient population . This tailored approach provides you and your nurses with what you need to provide high-quality patient care .

Nursing shortages have contributed to “ preventable harm due to omitted care or treatment ” being one of the Top 10 Safety Concerns of 2023 . But systems can address errors of omission by a few key practices : 1 . Standardizing nursing processes and products 2 . Instituting multidisciplinary rounds 3 . Streamlining onboarding and training of nurses

4 . Implementing flexible scheduling and providing cross-training for nurses

5 . Partnering with your medical supplier

A good partnership with a trusted supply vendor not only benefits your overall supply chain , but keeps the right products in the hands of every caregiver when and where they need it for effective patient care — helping to reduce stress and improve efficiencies .

References 1 . ECRI Blog . ( 2023 , March 14 ). ECRI ’ s Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for 2023 . ECRI ’ s Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for 2023 2 . Griffiths , P ., et al . ( 2018 , July ). The association between nurse staffing and omissions in nursing care : A systematic review . Journal of Advanced Nursing , 74 ( 7 ), 1474-1487 . https :// www . ncbi . nlm . nih . gov / pmc / articles / PMC6033178 /#:~: text = Seventy % E2 % 80 % 90five % 20per % 20cent % 20or , higher % 20reports % 20of % 20missed % 20care . 3 . National Council of State Boards of Nursing . ( 2023 , April 13 ). NCSBN research projects significant nursing workforce shortages and crisis [ press release ]. https :// www . ncsbn . org / news / ncsbn-research-projects-significant-nursing-workforce-shortages-and-crisis 4 . Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ( AHRQ ). ( 2019 , Sept . 7 ). Missed nursing care . https :// psnet . ahrq . gov / primer / missed-nursing-care 5 . Carvelho de Lima , et al . ( 2020 , February 14 ). Omission of nursing care in hospitalization units . Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem , 28 , e3233 . https :// www . ncbi . nlm . nih . gov / pmc / articles / PMC7021482 / 6 . ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices . ( 2023 , March 14 ). Special Report : ECRI ’ s Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for 2023 .

26 SUPPLY CHAIN OPTIMIZATION Issue 8 / 2024