Let's Get Digital: Advancing Perianesthesia Education Through QR Code Technology

Background Information Tracking educational progress of close to 200 staff members becomes long and tedious when completed on paper. Often, educators spend hours of time, sifting through orientation and annual competency checklists to assess the progress of employees. It was necessary to develop a simplified process to track competencies in real time. Objectives of Project Digitize orientation and competency checklists to make staff education tracking easier. Process of Implementation Utilizing the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) program, orientation checklists, initial competencies, and annual competencies were digitized and made accessible to users through QR code technology. Use of the electronic program was piloted with a small group of PACU trainees and preceptors. Prior to initiation pilot testing, users received an in-service and reference guides on program use. After the pilot group's successful usage of digital checklists, all staff members received training prior to using the electronic program for the annual perianesthesia nursing competencies. Statement of Successful Practice After implementation of the use of digitized forms, it has been shown that educators spend less time monitoring progress. By logging into the REDCap program and viewing the Record Status Dashboard, educators can see progress in real time. Upon completion of annual competencies, 133 users completed a survey regarding the use of digitized forms. 90.2% agreed that digitized competency forms were easy to use. 89.5% agreed that they would like to see more items such as forms, educational resources, and surveys digitized. Additional anecdotal evidence from end-users suggests that keeping up with a QR code on a badge buddy is easier than carrying folders with competency checklists, and educators have noticed a significant decrease in lost paperwork. Implications for Advancing the Practice of Perianesthesia Nursing The use of QR code technology has resulted in a more effective process for perianesthesia nurse educators to track and assess the learning progress of staff. In the future, QR code technology will advance the practice of perianesthesia nursing by making educational resources such as recorded in-services, TipSheets, and reference guides readily available to nurses and staff. Through the incorporation of digitized education, perianesthesia nurses will gain up-to-date knowledge to help them provide quality care to patients. Tracking educational progress of close to 200 staff members becomes long and tedious when completed on paper. Often, educators spend hours of time, sifting through orientation and annual competency checklists to assess the progress of employees. It was necessary to develop a simplified process to track competencies in real time. Digitize orientation and competency checklists to make staff education tracking easier. Utilizing the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) program, orientation checklists, initial competencies, and annual competencies were digitized and made accessible to users through QR code technology. Use of the electronic program was piloted with a small group of PACU trainees and preceptors. Prior to initiation pilot testing, users received an in-service and reference guides on program use. After the pilot group's successful usage of digital checklists, all staff members received training prior to using the electronic program for the annual perianesthesia nursing competencies. After implementation of the use of digitized forms, it has been shown that educators spend less time monitoring progress. By logging into the REDCap program and viewing the Record Status Dashboard, educators can see progress in real time. Upon completion of annual competencies, 133 users completed a survey regarding the use of digitized forms. 90.2% agreed that digitized competency forms were easy to use. 89.5% agreed that they would like to see more items such as forms, educational resources, and surveys digitized. Additional anecdotal evidence from end-users suggests that keeping up with a QR code on a badge buddy is easier than carrying folders with competency checklists, and educators have noticed a significant decrease in lost paperwork. The use of QR code technology has resulted in a more effective process for perianesthesia nurse educators to track and assess the learning progress of staff. In the future, QR code technology will advance the practice of perianesthesia nursing by making educational resources such as recorded in-services, TipSheets, and reference guides readily available to nurses and staff. Through the incorporation of digitized education, perianesthesia nurses will gain up-to-date knowledge to help them provide quality care to patients.