Creating an innovative educational structure to support best practice among novice nurses

In today's complex health care environment, staff nurses are responsible for having the skills to analyze complicated patient situations, develop complex plans of care, and skillfully communicate with the health care team. The establishment of a new progressive care unit presented a unique opportunity to create innovative educational structures. Expert nurses developed successful strategies that can be incorporated on any unit to facilitate learning for all nurses. The "Teach Me Tuesday" structure was created to enhance patient safety and information sharing. A more formal class, Cardiac Construction 101, was developed to help novice nurses fill their figurative tool box with skills to care for complex patients. Distinct courses of treatment for patients on the unit were selected for "Third Thursday" case studies.