Versant Holdings, LLC

A Versant colleague, Sue Johnson, author of Nightingale's Legacy: The Evolution of American Nurse Leaders is currently working on a book investigating the IOM (2010) recommendations and The Future of Nursing report. Dr. Johnson is currently conducting written interviews with practicing RNs in multiple roles and healthcare settings to determine their perceptions and recommendations for nursing’s future beyond 2020. Since nurse leaders between ages 25-45 will be responsible for the future direction of nursing beyond 2020, honest input from this group will be invaluable in assessing Nightingale’s vision for the profession, achievement of the IOM recommendations, and other innovative approaches for nursing’s future success. The study is completed in a written “interview form” consisting of 12 questions and will take 20-30 minutes to complete. If you are interested in participating in this study please contact Sue directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jean Shinners PhD, RN-BC, Executive Director Versant’s Center for the Advancement of Nursing (Vcan) is a current member of the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) Scope and Standards Task Force. Based on a NPD Role Delineation Study (Warren & Harper, 2015) the revised Scope and Standards will be published this summer 2016. The Scope and Standards provides direction for ANPD practitioners in the area of education and clinical practice.

Concurrently, Dr. Shinners and Chris Schumacher MS, MSN, RN-BC are using the revised ANPD Scope and Standards in a leadership text: Application of the Nursing Professional Development Scope and Standards of Practice, in the publication: Leadership in Nursing Professional Development: An Organizational and System Focus, Charlene Smith (Ed.) to be release this summer. Dr. Shinners and Ms. Schumacher will also be presenting their leadership perspectives at the ANPD Annual Convention in Pittsburgh July 19-22.

Greetings!

I have the pleasure of announcing the newest addition to our residency offerings. Versant will begin to offer a professional development system for preceptors in the Fall of 2015!

As always, Versant remains an outcomes-driven organization. Rather than just focusing on what a nurse must know to fit into his or her role, our competency-based model identifies specific outcomes that must occur for an organization to meet its own goals. Our approach in creating this program was no different. Through discussion with preceptors as part of a job analysis, we identified the competencies required for every preceptor to consistently meet your required performance and process outcomes. What will the Preceptor Development System include?

You will be provided a formal structure and metrics to determine who in your organization is already a proficient preceptor – and the tools and support necessary to ensure that each and every preceptor is. The benefits of such a program to your organization will be immediately clear.

Key competencies specific to the preceptor role are identified. One of our key findings was how important leadership competencies are to being a successful preceptor. Of course, this comes as no surprise – we believe that leadership competencies are important for every nurse to have - but we are proud to help nurses grow into their role as leaders. The role of a preceptor does not just focus on clinical competencies – it focuses on having the capacity to provide the support necessary to help a resident focus on acquiring clinical competence.

We have found preceptors have the experience necessary to be self-disciplined and self-driven learners. As such, a preceptor can remain at the point of care and prepare themselves for preceptor competency validation through use of Performance Support Tools (PSTs) created to be completed either in a classroom setting such as workshops or individually as an e-module.

Of course, Versant Voyager® will assist you in managing preceptor performance. In the future, a mobile application will be available for competency validation to be much more accessible!

Our goal is to begin introducing the Preceptor Development System as client organizations transition to the Versant II model. In the near future, your POM representative will reach out to answer any questions you have and discuss what the implementation process in your organization could look like.

Signed,
Larissa A. Africa, MBA, BSN, RN
President