TEAMING UP The buddy-scrub system helps new hires learn the ropes quickly and confidently.

MENTORING NEW HIRES
'Buddy Scrubs' Help Ease the Transition

We're a very small hospital in the boot heel of Missouri. When we recruit scrub techs, we make sure we don't just throw them into the deep end without a life preserver. Instead, as part of our orientation process, we assign everyone a "buddy scrub" — one of our experienced nurses — to stay with them for several weeks, give them moral support, instruct them in all the little details and teach them each surgeon's preferences.

As a new hire progresses, the buddy scrub might not actually scrub in with her, but she'll stay in the room to observe how she does: How is her technique, does she follow policy, does she follow labeling compliance, and so forth. We have an orientation checklist and we check things off as the scrub tech accomplishes each designated task — cleaning instruments, running the autoclave, assembling trays, doing counts, etc.

Fortunately, our surgeons are both cooperative and supportive — during orientation they know they're not allowed to yell at them (after orientation they can yell). And the new people really appreciate having an experienced buddy with them at all times.

The program has also given us insights into the skills of our veteran nurses. Some do fantastic jobs, but aren't necessarily great teachers. Others are great nurses and are also fantastic at mentoring. Of course those are the ones we use when we can. You can always tell by looking at the end product who mentored and taught that person — as the new hires become veterans, they tend to mirror the good habits of their teachers.

Joyce Danels, RN
Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center
Kennett, Mo.
[email protected]