Ellen Hargett

Rising Star in Healthcare Quality National Association for Healthcare Quality Aug 2013

Leader of the Year DeKalb Medical May 2005 As one of then 4000 employees, I received this Leadership Award in part, because of an innovative crisis staffing program that I developed called the Booster Program. This program recognized the clinical experience of nurses currently employed in non patient care roles (Infection Prevention, Education, IT, for example), then validated competency and cross trained them with specific skills which would be of value to bedside nurses who were experiencing staffing shortages. The Booster nurses… Show more As one of then 4000 employees, I received this Leadership Award in part, because of an innovative crisis staffing program that I developed called the Booster Program. This program recognized the clinical experience of nurses currently employed in non patient care roles (Infection Prevention, Education, IT, for example), then validated competency and cross trained them with specific skills which would be of value to bedside nurses who were experiencing staffing shortages. The Booster nurses signed up for whatever time periods they could offer outside their normal work, and if a manager needed their support during that time, they would arrive on the unit, and provide extra hands to support the patient care staff. Starting IV's, administering meds and blood products, bathing and turning, ambulating, whatever skills they had could be put to use. The presence of these seasoned nurses had a profound effect in lightening the load of stressed nurses, as well as demonstrating a esprit de corps culture. The Booster nurses were paid a flat hourly rate for their work and were known for their work ethic and positive attitudes. Show less