To appreciate career growth, one only needs to know
Leslie Wilson, the recently appointed staff development
coordinator at Medical Center of Plano.
It's a new position for Wilson that gives her responsibility
for orientation and basic life-support courses. Wilson,
who was regarded for her clinical, teaching and people
skills as nurse clinician for women's services, said
she hopes to become an even better classroom instructor,
building on her strength in one-on-one teaching.
Wilson attributed her success, particularly in pairing
up nurses and preceptors, to knowing what was needed
in each job, exploring orientees' interests and work
experience and taking into account personalities and
styles of learning.
"If I were looking for a preceptor, I would
look for someone who provided excellent nursing care,
who had the interest in teaching another person, who
had the personality and patience to be a teacher,"
she said.
When Wilson leads orientation, familiarizing experienced
and new graduate nurses alike with the way things
are done at the medical center, she speaks from experience
as a team player always willing to step into a staff
or charge role, serve on any committee, solve problems
with physicians or patients and then follow up with
staff and with additional education.
When a patient satisfaction survey found that breast
assessment could be improved, Wilson brought in the
women's resource manager to provide training.
Her style has been interactive. Training might include
a scavenger hunt or a crossword puzzle.
Under Wilson's leadership, women's services featured
a log of relevant articles to save RNs valuable time
in staying up-to-date. She also posted events, speakers
and presentations.
With recent graduates, Wilson's orientation eases
them into the reality of nursing, beginning with a
complete notebook and welcome letter on their first
day.
"They have to start at the beginning,"
she said. "It's very different from what they
learned in school.
All they've had is theory and a little bit of practical
experience and now they're going to have to take care
of a full load of patients and be responsible for
their care. They're not used to that."
Wilson said it makes her day when, in orientation,
"people have a grasp of what I'm trying to get
across. That makes me feel that it is worthwhile."
