• evaluate the first clinical placement process in LA using the CCPS tool
• review results from the Coordinators Survey conducted in May
• discuss challenges & identify strategies for improvement and collaboration
• effectively position for the next placement cycle                                                  

 

An email survey was sent out to all CCPS school and hospital coordinators in May following completion of the first clinical placement cycle to determine satisfaction with using CCPS to  place student nursing cohorts on clinical units. Data were analyzed on questions related to the effectiveness of using this tool to identify available clinical space, saving time, and having access to support needed. Survey results were distributed at the meeting and sent to coordinators who were not able to attend. Key findings from the survey are summarized here: 

• A greater percentage of respondents agreed (58%) or were neutral (29%) that CCPS was an effective planning and scheduling tool.
• A few nursing schools (22%) reported an increase in their capacity to request new units or shifts and hospitals (20%) reported CCPS facilitated their hospital to open more units or shifts.
• The majority of coordinators reported that the LA Nursing Resource Team valued their feedback (90%), and (91%) felt they have easy access to support and information needed.
• Coordinators indicated they felt comfortable (52%) using CCPS for the first time and (50%) responded that it will ultimately reduce the time needed to schedule placements.
• Once most hospitals and schools are participating most of the coordinators (63%) indicated that CCPS will be their primary clinical placement, scheduling, and communication tool.

System issues discussed included the need for hospitals to have an easier screen view of specific hours students are scheduled, and requested further information be provided by schools on course descriptions and levels of students. Schools requested hospitals provide more details about clinical unit descriptions and patient populations to facilitate their unit selection. A learning curve was acknowledged by first time CCPS users which was addressed with Help Desk support.  

Process issues and strategies for improvement were discussed and  included the need for clarification when multiple shifts are needed, and simplification for hospitals when reviewing overlapping requests.  The importance of both schools and hospitals including clear notes to each other to highlight unusual needs is appreciated. Hospitals with LVN school affiliations look forward to the expansion of CCPS to support a single clinical placement process for all their schools.

Learning needs were identified and included how to review hospital unit lists and schedules, how to access and read various reports including the placement calendar, and interest in how to export CCPS system data into site specific reports.  A complete list of learning needs was recorded and will the basis of the agenda for the Coordinator Update Sessions scheduled prior to the next placement cycle.

Help for schools:

• post open faculty positions
• view available interested faculty candidates
• review career resource links and best practice education models 

Log on to the CFRC site to explore the resources available to our nursing education community!