Staff development: an interdisciplinary approach.

Staff development in the broadest definition includes orientation, in-service education, and continuing education. The purpose of staff development is to maintain and improve the quality of health care through the educational process. Uttizing an interdisciplinary approach gives employees from all departments in a nursing home the opportunity to participate together in learning experiences. There are several reasons for implementing that concept:

1. It reinforces the philosophy of the interdisciplinary team process of health-care delivery, which is essential in long-term care facilities. Coming together for classes and to share concerns helps foster a spirit of cooperation among employees from different departments and from all levels.

2. The nursing home environment is unique: All employees come in contact with residents and their families, and frequently communicate with them in the course of their daily work.

3. Providing educational programs is a statement by admistration to employees that resident care is taken seriously; therefore, the staff will spend the time and money to do everything to provide the best care possible.

4. It is a means by which the needs of employees can be attended to by using education as a means of increasing their self-esteem.

To be successful, the staff development program must be considered an essential and valued component of the facility. That requires ongoing support from the governing board, administration, and the management staff. Such support is translated through a philosophy used as a guide in the organization of the department.

The educational process begins with orientation on the first day of employment. That is a structured program, planned to prepare new employees from all departments for their responsibilities as beginning health-care workers in a specff ic facility There is a common body of knowledge needed by all persons employed in a nursing home, regardless of job title or educational background. That information is introduced at the time of orientation, and is expanded upon through regular in-services held at times convenient for staff schedules.