VA Learning Opportunities Residency (VALOR) Program: Success at

Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO)

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Presentation Overview

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

Objectives and Content

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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.

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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

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Perceived benefits of the VALOR and similar programs

Improve Job Satisfaction

Reduce Turnover

Enhance skills critical to patient safety

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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Questions