Competency-Based Education: Maximize the Performance of Your Unlicensed Assistive Personnel

Abstract

Background: Providing patient care by using the most cost effective means has compelled skill mix changes in many hospitals. The need for educational programs are crucial to prepare unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) for their new roles. Method: Using a competency-based approach, an educational program was designed to develop specific technical skills to target complex competencies and to improve the participants' knowledge and skill performance. The educational program met the five program objectives. Results: Unlicensed assistive personnel gained knowledge and competency in new skills, as assessed in the education program and when applied in the clinical units. The most important outcome was the participants' expressed eagerness to learn more and their desire to work as contributing members of the health care team. Conclusion: The educational program adequately trained UAP and created a foundation of relationships and teamwork that enhanced the patient care delivery with cost efficiency.