The Role of the Head Nurse
A four week online tutored CPD course with Nicola Lakeman
Week 1
Performance Reviews and Appraisals
This first week, we will look at how to conduct appraisals and performance reviews. We will look at the different styles of checklists and forms that can be used to conduct these sessions, and we will discuss how to give feedback, whether good or bad. We will look at how performance reviews can be used to help with staff members who are not performing at an expected level.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Know how to give constructive feedback
- How to set performance action plans
- Design an appraisal form, in order to conduct an appraisal
Week 2
Quality Improvement
QI is an important part of clinical practice and it often lands on veterinary nurses to conduct clinical audits. We will explore what QI involves, how to develop evidence-based practice, what a journal club is, and how to implement clinical audits.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Understand the concepts of clinical governance, quality improvement and clinical audits
- How to implement a clinical audit
- Understand how to start a journal club
Week 3
Disciplinary Issues
We will look at what to do if you have a situation when a staff member that doesn’t arrive to work on time, has performance issues, or doesn’t comply to rules. We will look at how you can manage these people, how to set reviews and action plans, along with what to do if they don’t adhere to these action plans.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Set action plans and how to review these
- Know how to conduct an investigation into conduct
- Understand what the disciplinary process involves
Week 4
Finances
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Understand the importance of stock control and how to implement a simple system to aid your stock takes
- Understand the importance of charging and how making a few changes can make a difference
- Know why it is important to charge for your time