P09 - SOW - Preceptor Course.docx

VA OED

CONTRACT/ACQUISITION STRATEGY

Statement of Work

Preceptor Course License and Assessment Tool

1. Purpose. The Office of Nursing Services (ONS) requires training tools to educate VHA experienced nursing staff to become effective preceptors and train VHA’s future workforce.

2. Background. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) and others have highlighted the need for an adequate and qualified nurse workforce to provide quality and timely care to veterans. VHA faces challenges such as increased competition for skilled clinicians in hard-to-fill occupations such as nurses. The GAO report, 15-794, Oversight Improvements Needed for Nurse Recruitment and Retention Initiatives, found that improvements are needed for these programs. GAO reported, recruitment and retention are particularly difficult for nurses with advanced professional skills, knowledge, and experience, which is critical given veterans' needs for more complex specialized services. GAO recommended VA (1) develop a process to help monitor medical centers' compliance with its key nurse recruitment and retention initiatives; (2) evaluate the adequacy of training resources provided to nurse recruiters; and (3) conduct a system-wide evaluation of its key nurse recruitment and retention initiatives. In response to the GAO review, VA concurred with the recommendations and implemented a national directive to have a trained workforce. Part of that process is precepting new staff. A preceptor is an experienced Registered Nurse (RN) who has completed preceptor training and is willing to serve as a clinical role model and resource for the new graduate RNs. VHA Directive 1077, VHA Registered Nurse Transition-To-Practice Residency Program (RNTTP) provides policy on the Registered Nurse (RN)Transition-to-Practice Residency Program for all levels of employed new graduate RN residents (employees) in their first RN nursing role. It is VHA policy that every VA medical facility that hires new graduate RNs in their first licensed RN role, or RNs with less than one year of professional experience, establish or collaborate with an established, structured, one-year RNTTP Residency Program based on the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education’s Standards for Accreditation of Entry-to-Practice Nurse Residency Programs. Per the Directive, the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS) or the Chief Nurse Executive (CNE) has VHA medical facility oversight responsibility for ensuring that preceptors and mentors have the necessary training to fulfill their roles. Overall planning and implementation of the RNTTP Program includes collaborating with preceptors on program development, implementation, progress, and evaluation. Each RN resident is assigned a preceptor. VHA also utilizes preceptors to guide trainees through other VHA programs such as the Technical Career Field (TCF) internships and the Graduate Healthcare Administration Training Program (GHATP). The gap in these enterprise license for unlimited users in an online training format to provide nursing and other allied health professional staff with the foundation of being an effective preceptor. The training supplements additional internal VA courses such as, RNTTP Preceptors and Mentors Best Practices offered through the VA Talent Management System (TMS).

3. Scope. The Contractor shall provide a nationwide license for unlimited use of online preceptor training tools to access online training courses that prepare preceptors to effectively and competently orient new nurses. The online preceptor course shall be accredited by the American Nurses Credentialling Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC), the recognized authority in nursing credentialling. The course should offer at least twenty (20) continuing education (CE) hours for nurses and allied health professionals. CE requirements for license renewal for nurses varies by State; twenty-seven (27) states require at least twenty (20) CE hours for license renewal. The training shall also allow for VHA administrators to assign modules and lessons as needed. The training should consist of lessons that focus on a mix of independent learning modules, and include the following elements: key skills needed to complete a successful preceptorship; how to design and organize the preceptorship, including determining a preceptee’s learning needs and creating a learning plan, an evaluation plan, and a timeline; the various teaching styles and learning materials, how to work with a preceptee’s preferred learning style; effective communication and feedback practices; guidance in problem solving specific situations; strategies for balancing work with the preceptorship duties; creative ways to work with learners who have unique needs; strategies for working with people from different cultures; self-assessment evaluation of leadership styles, adaptive training, a training session in conflict resolution, a training session on cultural diversity, and focus on activities applied when acting as a mentor to bridge the gap between a nurse’s educational environment and nurse employment. Additionally, the contractor must have a process to test the individuals on their knowledge retention and provide reports to VHA.

4. Mandatory Tasks and Deliverables. The contractor shall provide a nationwide license for unlimited use of online preceptor training tools. In addition, the contractor must have a process to test the individuals on their knowledge retention and provide reports to VHA.

4.1 Task One. Provide an unlimited license to online preceptor training tools.

Deliverable 4.1. Provide unlimited enterprise license to online preceptor training tools.

4.2 Task Two. Provide a tool or process to test the individuals on their knowledge retention.

Deliverable 4.2. Provide tool or process to test the individuals on their knowledge retention. .

4.3 Task Three. Provide monthly reports to VHA Program Manager.

4.3 Schedule for Mandatory Deliverables.

4.3.1 Table of Base Period Mandatory Deliverables Due Dates

5. Period of Performance. The period of performance shall be from the date of award for a base period of 12-months plus four (4) 12-month option years.

6. Place of Performance. The performance is done via electronically, the access code should be provided to the COR upon award of contract.

7. Travel. No travel required

8. Type of Contract. A Firm- Fixed Price will be issued for this effort.

11. Changes to the SOW. Any changes to this SOW shall be authorized and approved only through written correspondence from the Contracting Officer. A copy of each change will be kept in a project folder along with all other products of the project. Costs incurred by the contractor through the actions of parties other than the Contracting Officer shall be borne by the contractor.

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