Wake County Public Health Nursing Department experienced a turnover rate of 26-27% during 2022-2023. This turnover included clinical and supervisory staff decreasing the ability to accurately validate clinical competency yielding susceptibility to decreased patient safety and quality patient care. The Director of Nursing instituted a mandatory skills blitz using the Donna Wright Competency Model to validate all clinical staff using inhouse subject matter experts (SME) as trainers and skill validators.

Areas of clinical significance and priority were selected by nurse consultants and confirmed by area supervisors resulting in 7 areas for competency validation using data driven analytics. Learning objectives were created for the 7 areas after which content was developed, and skills assigned using 3 domains of skill (technical, critical thinking, and interpersonal).

Validators were assigned to tables with trifolds, media outlets, and/or return demonstrations serving as “stations” to teach staff in groups of 6-8. Each participant received a Competency Objective Checklist to complete and have signed by the validator at each station as evidence of participation. Six, 4-hour sessions were held with total participation of 148 clinical staff. Staff who did not meet competency standards at a station were scheduled for additional training.

Pre- and Posttest results demonstrated a 67% increase in basic knowledge. The evaluation results averaged 96% positive learning experience overall. Comments and suggestions gathered from each post skills blitz debrief session were implemented to improve outcomes for the next session. Validation of 148 staff was accomplished and subsequently the skills blitz model will continue in 2025.