ONS Annual Report 2010 - US Department of Veterans Affairs

of Nurse Executives, etc.) has been assembled to create a conceptual map. A sub-committee has been
formed to examine the available data, distinguish the critical elements within the HWE conceptual model,
and provide avenues to achieve measurable improvements. This sub-committee will consider all aspects of
a healthy workplace such as safety, respect, work-life balance and stressors.
Recruitment and Retention
ONS Network: CDWM
VHA strives to be an employer of choice in an environment in which we compete with community
health care providers who can implement a hiring decision in a short and reasonable timeframe. ONS is
committed to streamlining the regulatory requirements for on boarding essential nursing personnel in an
effort to attract the most qualified candidates. As a result, ONS collaborated with the offices of Quality and
Performance (OQP) and Workforce Management and Consulting (WMC) on a Process Action Team charged
"to make recommendations to streamline the recruitment and credentialing processes for title 5, Hybrid
title 38 and title 38 positions within VHA and to analyze the recruitment and credentialing process..." VHA
has set a goal to achieve completion of on-boarding new employees from time of offer to entry on duty
within 30 days. Many facilities have been involved in a pilot to achieve this goal. The hiring process can be
viewed in three distinct stages:
� Recruitment Phase
� Selection Phase
� Boarding/Credentialing Phase
Let’s Get Certified! Campaign – Phase III
ONS Network: CDWM
The Let’s Get Certified! Campaign began in 2008 as a 5-year pilot with the goal of increasing the numbers
of nurses with specialty certification within VHA. This widely supported national initiative was expanded
during Phase II to include the nursing workforce of DoD and is now in its third year of implementation.
VHA is the first health care organization to initiate a certification campaign that partnered with professional
associations to increase the number of nurses with specialty certification. This year, new certifications that
have been added to the growing cohort offered incentives include:
� National Association for Health Care Quality
� American Academy of Wound Management
� Infusion Nursing Society
� Neuroscience Nursing
During Phase II, ONS supported the initiative by providing monetary incentives for the Certification
Development and Certification Achievement awards. The program has resulted in a growing certified
nursing workforce, improved nurse satisfaction, opportunities for professional growth and development
and nurse retention. These incentives will continue for Phase III of the program.
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