An Annual Employee Education Calendar as the Capstone of Educational Assessment, Planning, and Delivery

Abstract

Staff development educators can better control their workload and provide a more comprehensive employee education program when the organization adopts a formal five-step process that culminates in the publication of an annual employee education calendar. This article describes the five steps of organization-wide learning needs assessment, resource allocation, priority setting, documentation of the educational plan, and calendar development, including elements and timelines. The annual calendar reflects involvement of staff throughout the facility in the identification, planning, and delivery of education programs. Its publication enhances staff and supervisors' awareness of learning opportunities. Its longer-range perspective assists managers and employees to better plan to meet learning needs and improves participation in staff development activities.

Mental Health Learning Needs Assessment: Competency-Based Instrument for Best Practice

“…A learning needs assessment focused on psychiatric mental health competency development is a central component of nursing education for professional skill development in nursing practice. The learning needs assessment is a primary educational tool utilized by nurse educators to determine the knowledge base and skill needs of both novice and professional nurses in order to enable lifelong learning in the field of professional mental health nursing (Morton, 2005;While, Ullman, & Forbes, 2007). Nursing education and continuous learning is an essential part of the health care profession and underpins the development of professional standards of practice.…”

Nursing Department Education Needs Assessment

“…The literature discusses various methods that have been used to create a valid picture of the learning needs of groups (Burk, 2008;Millhaem & Timm, 2007;Morton, 2005). The education department had used many methods to identify education needs, including written surveys that ask for suggested topics or that provide a list of topics asking staff to indicate their top education needs.…”