Member Question

Good morning! We have a question from member Jennifer Reno at NKCH. If you can help answer, please direct your reply to Jenni's email listed below.

Below is the list of TJC requirements for organizations with specialty certifications regarding orientation, education, contact hour, and competency.  Please see our question and provide insight as to how your organization handles such certification requirements.

TJC requires the organization to have and education and competency plan that includes:

1. Initial competency assessment and education for new hires to be completed in the orientation period.
2. Ongoing annual education as required by the specialty certification guidelines.
3. A set number of contact hours by role defined in each certification program (standards 2 & 3 are specific to education hours – not competency assessment).
4. Identified critical competencies (e.g., related to STEMI activation and resuscitation (ACLS) etc.) – this is in the Comprehensive Cardiac Certification Standards only, not ortho or stroke.

Question:

• Do you require all new RNs hired to units with specialty certification to complete the annual contact hour requirement during the orientation period or do you require them to complete by the annual due date (ours being FY end)?
• If you do something different, please share.

Thanks ~
Jenni Reno, MSN RN NPD-BC CMSRN
Director, Nursing Professional Development
North Kansas City Hospital

2800 Clay Edwards Drive

North Kansas City, MO 64116

Office: 816-691-5126

FAX:  816-346-7090

~~ We provide hope and healing to every life we touch ~~