INTRODUCTION TO THINK TANK REPORT
The National Nursing Staff Development Organization (NNSDO) convened a think tank on "Issues and Trends in Health Care, Nursing, and Staff Development" in Atlanta at the July 2007 NNSDO Convention. I want to extend a special thanks to those individuals who attended this session (listed at the end of the report) and to Linda Shinn from Consensus Management Group for facilitating the discussion. In addition, I want to acknowledge the work of the Trends Task Force in reviewing the literature to identify key themes and suggested areas of discussion and in identifying some pertinent articles for the group to read prior to the think tank.
The purpose of the think tank was to bring NNSDO leaders together to develop a projection of staff development in the next 10 years, including the integration of trends in health care, nursing, human resources, training, and nursing professional development into the discussion. Assumptions about this future environment will then serve as a foundation for the NNSDO Board as it seeks to ensure NNSDO's continuing relevance over the next decade at a strategic planning session in January of 2008.
The report of the think tank is printed below:
Report OF NNSDO Think Tank
July 26, 2007
1 pm to 4 pm
Sheraton Atlanta Hotel
Atlanta, GA
Participants named key trends, determined those that have the most significance to NNSDO, and identified the implications for the staff development professional and NNSDO. The trends identified as having significant implications for staff development and NNSDO included the following:
* Generational issues will influence how people work together in healthcare settings.
* There will continue to be diversification of the workforce.
* There will be a need for knowledge management as "boomers" retire.
* New knowledge (e.g., genomics/genetics) will need to be integrated into the practice setting.
* Advances in technology and use of technology in care settings will increase.
* There will be a continued focus on quality outcomes, competency, and patient safety in healthcare settings.
* There will be increased pressure on those in staff development to demonstrate return on investment of nursing professional development/education, necessitating the possession of greater business acumen by those in staff development.
* Healthcare systems will become increasingly complex with mergers, acquisitions, and expansions.
* There will be a greater need for practice/education partnerships.
NNSDO PRIORITIES
Although said in different ways, the group identified three critical priority areas for NNSDO in the coming years. It should be noted that these priorities are integrated and overlap.
Technology
Leverage/maximize the use of technology in the following:
* Providing products and services to members/customers
* Identifying best practices in staff development
* Helping those in staff development teach/learn
Knowledge Management
Manage knowledge through the following:
* Identifying best practices in staff development
* Infusing critical thinking skills in practice activities and processes
* Demonstrating the return on investment in staff development, including quality and safety
* Fostering the expanding role of those in staff development
Practice/Education Partnerships
Increase practice/education collaboration for the following:
* Providing greater preparation of practitioners including the staff development professional
* Fostering understanding of the work and roles of each
Next steps:
The NNSDO Board will engage in strategic planning in early 2008. The work of the think tank will be used in planning for the next 3 years, including the identification of strategies to achieve these priorities.
NNSDO THINK TANK PARTICIPANTS
Julie Aucoin, DNS, RN-BC, NNSDO Representative to the American Nurses Credentialing Center Nursing Professional Development Examination Content Expert Panel
Patricia Barlow, BA, Account Executive
Carol Blauth, MSN, BS, RN-BC, Incoming Director
Dora Bradley, PhD, RN-BC, Director
Sandra Bruce, MSN, RN-BC, Editor, Third Edition of the Core Curriculum for Staff Development
Barbara Brunt, MA, MN, RN-BC, President-Elect
Cathy Colley, MEd, BSN, RN, Member of Trends Task Force
Jon Dancy, MBA, MIT, President, NNSDO's Association Management Company
Mary Harper, MSN, RN-BC, Incoming Director
Mary Holtschneider, MPA, BSN, RN, BC, NREMT-P, NNSDO's Legislative Liaison
Kathie Larke, MEd, RN-BC, Co-Chair, 2007 Convention Program Planning Committee
Nancy Konzelmann, MS, RN-BC, Secretary
Mary Krugman, PhD, RN, FAAN, NNSDO Representative to the Genetics and Genomics Nursing Consortium
Janice Muzynski, MS, RN-BC, Local Affiliate Representative
Connie Perry-Simon, MSN, RN-BC, Chair, Recognition Committee
James Reimer, MEd, RN, Co-Chair, Informatics Committee
Kari Schmidt, MS, RN-BC, President
Megan Shaw, MEd, RN, Local Affiliate Representative
Elaine Smith, MSN, MBA, RN, CNAA, Director
Diana Swihart, PhD, DMin, MSN, APRN-BC, CS, Treasurer
Joan Warren, PhD, RN-BC, Chair, Research Committee
Karen Wray, MSN, RN, Member of Trends Task Force