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RN and MA Annual Competencies

  • 1.  RN and MA Annual Competencies

    Posted 10-02-2024 17:29
    Edited by Caitlin Bynum 10-02-2024 17:29

    Hello, 

    I work currently at a relatively small medical group in California with 3 primary clinics. We're looking to revamp our Annual Clinical Competencies. Would any one mind sharing what their organizations process is for clinical competencies and specifically what skills are covered for MA's & RN's?

    Thank you! 



    ------------------------------
    Caitlin Bynum
    AC Wellness
    Hollister CA
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  • 2.  RE: RN and MA Annual Competencies

    Posted 10-02-2024 18:33
    Hello Caitlin,
    Our organization was doing annual skills by sending competencies via computer-based modules through our Learning Management System. 
    This year we are trialing in person skills comprised of BP skills, injections, and MAR/Barcode scanning. We have over 300 primary care and specialty practices and roughly 1400 clinical staff, RN, LPN, and RNs. We have simulation equipment for each station. We are leveraging our LMS for staff to sign up for a location and time.

    Hope this helps!

    Thank you,

    Sharon JJ Peacock, MSN, RN, AMB-BC
    Nursing Professional Development Generalist
    For clinical education inquiries, email SASDClinEduTeam@sentara.com
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  • 3.  RE: RN and MA Annual Competencies

    Posted 10-04-2024 12:13

    Thank you for the response! Would you mind sharing what skills and simulations your organization covers during annual competencies?



    ------------------------------
    Caitlin Bynum
    AC Wellness
    Hollister CA
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  • 4.  RE: RN and MA Annual Competencies

    Posted 09-03-2025 22:30

    Hi Sharon, 

        The health system I'm with has 93 clinics primary care and specialty practice. Would you mind sharing your clinical leadership structure to meet the needs of the clinical staff? 

    Thank you in advance. 



    ------------------------------
    Stephanie DeVault
    RN, BSN
    Cape Fear Valley Health System
    Fayetteville NC
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  • 5.  RE: RN and MA Annual Competencies

    Posted 10-03-2024 10:48

    Hi There :)

    We are also a smaller organization consisting of eight medical clinics.  Each clinic has a nurse lead.  Every year, the nurse leads and I meet to review and do a skills check off for the annual competencies.  Once we have completed that, the nurse leads return to their clinics and have the nursing/MA/CNA staff review and complete their competencies.  We require all staff to have completed their competency check off lists by the end of May annually.  

    Thanks, 

    Amber Y Smith, BSN, RN

    Director of Nursing

    Valley Family Health Care

    1431 S Main St

    Payette, ID 83661



    ------------------------------
    Amber Smith
    Valley Family Health Care
    Payette ID
    (208) 642-7364
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: RN and MA Annual Competencies

    Posted 10-04-2024 12:14

    Thank you for the response! Would you mind sharing what skills your nurses and medical assistants are required to complete? How do you go about picking the skills that are covered? 



    ------------------------------
    Caitlin Bynum
    AC Wellness
    Hollister CA
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: RN and MA Annual Competencies

    Posted 10-07-2024 11:05

    Hello,

    Since we are TJC accredited, We satisfy the yearly competencies for POCTs by a quiz, and  observing the QC of each test.  The tests are talked through while  using the supplies without being opened and RNs  and trained Managers who used to be MAs.  We complete the 6 POCTS in 2 months)  The quiz is given electronically at a the MA staff meeting,  prior to the start of the Comp month.   The other Competencies we complete every 3 years in a 1/2 day session on a Saturday  (in which all are compensated) tests include the procedures/skills that MAs do daily while in the visit with the providers. They include: 

    1. EKG
    2. Visual Acuity
    3. Heel stick
    4. Manual / auto  BP
    5. All medication administration methods
    6. Audio test
    7. Doffing gloves
    8. Review of  Psych injectables
    9. Nebulizer treatment

    During that 3 year evaluation, a comprehensive test is given as well where an 80% passes, but wrong answers are reviewed regardless.  

    Of course, all evaluators are comped first.   We use a  shared document  to log completions live...  I have attached an example of both the POCT  and a triennial comp form.   Employee COMPETENCY_ANNUAL_Hcg Pregnancy_8.2024.docx  Employee Competency oral_non.liquid_medication administration _6..7.2024.docx



    ------------------------------
    Heidi Spielmaker RN
    Tapestry 360 Health
    Chicago IL
    (773) 751-7850
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: RN and MA Annual Competencies

    Posted 02-19-2025 13:33

    Heidi - these links take me to your orgs Sharepoint site that I cannot access.  Would you be willing to share them as a PDF?



    ------------------------------
    Christine Conran
    Metro Health - University of Michigan Health
    Grand Rapids MI
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: RN and MA Annual Competencies

    Posted 10-08-2024 22:28
    Edited by Brianna Rivera 10-08-2024 22:34

    Hello Caitlin,

    I have included a small list of your typical initial/annual competencies for RNs and MAs. There are some areas that CA is a bit strict about with SOP for MAs vs RNs so be mindful of those. For example, MAs must have any medication/vaccine verified prior to administration by a licensed professional and needs to be documented in the encounter. 

    If I remember correctly, CA does require both written and observational competencies. The **RSV test below is due to some machines requiring nasopharyngeal specimens only, which lies outside of SOP for MAs. 

    For process, typically a Lead MA (who is signed off by a nurse) can sign off other MAs. Otherwise, you will want a higher license/role to sign off individuals based on role like an LVN or RN. There are loads of practice supplies you can find that are inexpensive on amazon (like injection sites with "flesh" like material, PPD testing, phlebotomy arms, etc). I recommend using a form created in excel that shows some type of verbiage like "pass/fail" on each skill and notes for improvement if they employee fails a certain skill... these days manual BPs seem to be the culprit with most facilities using vital machines for day to day care.

    For POCT training, most manufacturers now have online videos that your employees can watch and you can create tests that employees have to pass for the written training. Easy to make tests via the manufacturer's manual as well for specifics to cleaning needs, usage, quality control needs, etc.

    Manual BP (adult/pedi)
    Manual RR (adult/pedi)
    Manual HR (adult/pedi)
    Weight (adult/pedi)
    Height (adult/pedi)
    Vital Machine
    Pulse Oximeter
    Oral Temp
    Axillary Temp
    Rectal Temp
    IM Injection
    SC Injection
    Deep IM Injection
    Audiometer
    Snellen Chart
    Ishiara Test
    EKG
    PPD Placement
    Blood Sugar POC
    UPT POC
    Urine Dipstick POC
    COVID Test
    RSV Test**
    Flu Test

    Hope this helps!

    Sincerely,

    Brianna



    ------------------------------
    Brianna Rivera, MSN, RN

    Rivera Healthcare Consulting
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: RN and MA Annual Competencies

    Posted 10-09-2024 11:54

    Here are some of the Annual Competencies we complete with staff:

    Primary/Specialty Clinics (not OB or Orthopedics)

                   Stations

    ·        Sample Drug policy, workflows

    ·        Vitals Review – what's wrong in the picture.  We have pictures of our educators with errors and scenario on a trifold board.  As they come thru the station – they need to identify what is wrong.  Ie: over clothes, pt. legs crossed, pt. back unsupported, etc. 

    ·        Obtaining Measurements – length for infants and head circumference

    ·        Adult IM

    ·        Peds IM

    ·        Safe Patient Handling – Sara Stedy, Gait Belt, proper use of walkers, canes, crutches, knee scooters

    ·        Infection Control – hand washing, cleaning & wet times for cleaners

    ·        I-Cup 7 drug testing – how to interpret

    ·        Fit Testing for N-95 masks/airborne

    ·        POC Machines – our In-house Lab complete these with each staff in stations: Clinitek Urinalysis, Hemocue Hemoglobin, Inform II Glucose, Urine HCG, Hemoccult Sensa, Afinion HgbA1C, LeadCare II, CoaguChek PT/INR, Proper Histology Labeling, Phlebotomy Labeling, Cepheid RSV/Flu/Covid/Strep testing

    Online Modules

    ·        Phlebotomy/Lab Machines/Lab Workflows

    ·        Safe Patient Handling & Reporting Employee Injury & Patient Injury

    ·        Adult Medication Test

    ·        Pediatric Medication Test

    ·        Lippincott Multiple Measurements – vitals, head circumference, weights, lengths

    ·        Lippincott Injections both IM and Subq

    ·        Lippincott TB testing

    OB Clinics

                   Stations & Modules

    ·        All listed above except the pediatric focused stations and modules

    ·        Also, Non-Stress Test

    ·        Also, Sterile Technique

    Orthopedics

                   Stations

    ·        Blood Pressure Assessment – double stethoscope & manual B/P for each clinical staff

    ·        Cast Application

    ·        Splint Application

    ·        Suture/Staple Removal

    ·        Gait Belt Use

    ·        Walker Fit/Use

    ·        Crutch Walking

    ·        DME application

    ·        Sterile Field and Gloving

    ·        No Lab draws – all patients go to main hospital lab

    Modules

    ·        Vitals

    ·        Safe Patient Handling & Reporting Injuries

    ·        Lippincott Cast application & removal

    ·        Lippincott Splint application

    ·        Lippincott Suture/staple removal

    ·        Lippincott MRI safety

    ·        Lippincott Radiation safety

     

    Hope this was helpful J  Feel free to reach out to me at email below for further questions

     

     

    image002.png@01D8A283Michelle Aitkenhead, MACFM, BSN, R.N.

    Clinical Educator for Healthcare Centers

    Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers

    150 W. High St., Morris, IL 60450

    Email: maitkenhead@morrishospital.org

    Ph: 815.705.7824

    "Coming Together is a Beginning; Keeping Together is Progress; Working Together is Success." Henry Ford

     

    "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

     

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  • 11.  RE: RN and MA Annual Competencies

    Posted 10-09-2024 16:41
      |   view attached

    Hi Caitlin,

    I also work in California! I have attached the list we use in Primary Care for core competencies. Although note that for specific sites where urgent care or eye clinic is housed in the clinic, we also have specific competencies for those departments. Included is all nursing staff. I hope this helps,



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    Lorraine Macierz, MSN, BSN, RN
    CN lll
    Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System
    Gilroy, CA
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: RN and MA Annual Competencies

    Posted 10-10-2024 15:41

    I have attached our 2024 annual competency packets in hopes that they may help. Our staff development specialist does a needs assessment in the fall to ask what folks need training on and then we leverage the incident reporting system to help identify needs as well. Some of the training is required annually regardless. Hope this helps. 



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    Patricia Hughes DNP RN NE-BC
    UK HealthCare
    Lexington KY
    (859) 323-4413
    ------------------------------

    Attachment(s)



  • 13.  RE: RN and MA Annual Competencies

    Posted 09-04-2025 15:11

    @Tracy Fry-Longoria this thread may be helpful also! 



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    Torie Bonnet MSN RN NE-BC NPD-BC
    Associate Director of Nursing
    Piedmont Health
    Raleigh NC

    bonnett@piedmonthealth.org
    ------------------------------