Recruiting Strategies Recruiting Strategies

Marcia O’Leary, RNMarcia O’Leary, RN

Missouri Breaks Inc.Missouri Breaks Inc.

The Strong Heart The Strong Heart StudyStudy

Lessons learnedLessons learned

PHASE I: BEGAN 1988PHASE I: BEGAN 1988

4500 ENROLLED4500 ENROLLED

PHASE II: BEGAN 1993PHASE II: BEGAN 1993

3900 ENROLLED3900 ENROLLED

PHASE III: BEGAN 1997PHASE III: BEGAN 1997

3500 ENROLLED3500 ENROLLED

PHASE IV: BEGAN 2000PHASE IV: BEGAN 2000

3600 ENROLLED3600 ENROLLED

FAMILY STUDYFAMILY STUDY

PHASE V: BEGINS MAY 2006PHASE V: BEGINS MAY 2006

STRONG HEART STUDY

Participants are Participants are volunteers volunteers

They come to us with many burdensThey come to us with many burdens» » Sophia is a 45 year old grandmother Sophia is a 45 year old grandmother

raising 3 grandchildren, she works full raising 3 grandchildren, she works full time and has no leave available.time and has no leave available.

» » Tim is a rancher and has started calving. Tim is a rancher and has started calving. He lives 20 miles out of town and does He lives 20 miles out of town and does not have help to watch his cow herd. His not have help to watch his cow herd. His work load will increase as the Spring and work load will increase as the Spring and Summer months progress.Summer months progress.

»» Carrie is out of work and is living with Carrie is out of work and is living with her boyfriend’s family. Her oldest son her boyfriend’s family. Her oldest son has been skipping school and ended up has been skipping school and ended up in Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) last in Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) last night.night. » » Florence has been in the hospital with Florence has been in the hospital with cellulitis. The doctor told her that she is in the cellulitis. The doctor told her that she is in the early stages of ESRD. She is tired of being early stages of ESRD. She is tired of being handled by medical personnel and has a handled by medical personnel and has a difficult time getting around but does not like to difficult time getting around but does not like to use her cane in public.use her cane in public.

How are you going to fill this chair How are you going to fill this chair

Is anyone here able to do it Is anyone here able to do it alone?alone?

Not one of us alone, but as a team we can help make our

participant’s experience comfortable, memorable and

enjoyable.

Who can solve these Who can solve these different issues?different issues?

1. Professionalism1. Professionalism

2. Respect2. Respect

3. Education3. Education

What are your participants What are your participants expectations of Research?expectations of Research?

ProfessionalismProfessionalism

Be ProfessionalBe Professional1. It is important to be confidential with 1. It is important to be confidential with

peoples information.peoples information.

2. Be accountable, do what you say. ( If you open at 8:00a.m. make sure you are ready to start seeing participants.)

3. Dress professionally , use name tags so participants know who you are, clothes should be neat and clean, lab coats clean, shoes that will protect your feet.

4. Don’t take things personally. This is not about you, it’s about your volunteer and their commitment to your project. Without them you do not have a project.

5. Keep personal issues at home, don’t talk about your family issues at work, don’t talk about what is going on in the community. People will wonder if you talk about them when they are not there.

Be responsible for what comes out of your mouth.

Remember:

Bad news travels 500 times faster than good news.

6. Be a good listener, that is why we have two ears and one mouth. Sometimes our participants just need someone to share their lives with.

➢ Listening to others honors them. It tells them that they are worthwhile, that you value them.

7. Be prepared when participants come in.

➢ Know your equipment.➢ Be familiar with and follow your

protocols.➢ Educate yourself and your staff.

EducationEducationBe certain that the information that Be certain that the information that

you or your staff is giving out is you or your staff is giving out is correct.correct.

8. Be A Team Builder8. Be A Team Builder The people you work with will have many different

talents.

Some people might have the ability to talk with any age participant and make them feel comfortable.

Some will have the talent to work with the computers.

Some people might have the knowledge of peoples names and how people in the community are related.

Some are comfortable running the equipment such as blood pressure machines, or drawing blood.

Sometimes supervisors have the ability to pick and choose their staff.

• More often supervisors have to work with the people who apply.

Good teams1. Recognize talents and develop them to best serve the

project.2. Are made up of people of different ages and both male

and females gender.3. Work to improve communication skills

1. Utilize Native speakers.2. Develop improved communication techniques.3. Document communication.4. Call people on their negative behaviors.

Reinforce positive behaviorReinforce positive behavior

Remember: Professionalism is Remember: Professionalism is RespectRespect

RespectRespect

Our job is to make participants feel better for Our job is to make participants feel better for having taken part in the research project.having taken part in the research project.

1. Be aware of your tone of voice, this tells people if 1. Be aware of your tone of voice, this tells people if you are respecting them.you are respecting them.

2. Be aware of your facial expression and body 2. Be aware of your facial expression and body language, do you smile, do you look at people when language, do you smile, do you look at people when you speak or when they are talking to you. In you speak or when they are talking to you. In different cultures, it is ok to look at people when different cultures, it is ok to look at people when speaking, and in some places it shows disrespect.speaking, and in some places it shows disrespect.

4.4. After being NPO offer a snack and drink.After being NPO offer a snack and drink.

3. Make your office area comfortable for the 3. Make your office area comfortable for the participant:participant:

1. Make sure you have adequate seating.1. Make sure you have adequate seating. 2. Offer T.V. or reading material with good 2. Offer T.V. or reading material with good

lights.lights. 3. Have a clean restroom available.3. Have a clean restroom available.

Be FlexibleBe Flexible1. Have office hours that will accommodate the 1. Have office hours that will accommodate the

working age population, the elderly and working age population, the elderly and those with children. those with children.

2.2. Have lunch hours open for participants who Have lunch hours open for participants who work. work.

3.3. Make home visits to the elderly and help Make home visits to the elderly and help them do as much as they can in the home. them do as much as they can in the home.

4. Provide a ride, many people may need 4. Provide a ride, many people may need transportation to get to the research office.transportation to get to the research office.

5. If a screening takes many hours schedule 5. If a screening takes many hours schedule half on one day and finish the next day.half on one day and finish the next day.

Educate and DisseminateEducate and Disseminate

1. Make posters and check frequently that they are still 1. Make posters and check frequently that they are still hanging on bulletin boards.hanging on bulletin boards.

2. Be involved in health fairs.2. Be involved in health fairs.

3. Do interviews on your local radio.3. Do interviews on your local radio.

4. Write a newspaper article about your research project 4. Write a newspaper article about your research project and educate your community about a health issue.and educate your community about a health issue.

5. Visit schools to teach children about why we do 5. Visit schools to teach children about why we do research projects.research projects.

6. Signs out by the street, telling who we need to 6. Signs out by the street, telling who we need to volunteer and what our office hours are.volunteer and what our office hours are.

People don’t care about People don’t care about what you know until they what you know until they know how much you care.know how much you care.

Have high expectations of your Have high expectations of your self and staff.self and staff.

Remember this research project is not just Remember this research project is not just about one person.about one person.

It is about changing the health It is about changing the health of a nation.of a nation.