Jason Schneider is an exemplary Nurse and Preceptor. He has a phenomenal nursing foundation built on his experience as an EMT and as and Emergency Department Nurse. This unique background gives him a unique perspective of the processes of caring for an emergent patient, whether the patient comes in via ambulance or through the triage doors. This background also facilitates his ability to train and assimilate the new nurse into the patient-centric culture of the Emergency Department and insure that the new nurse will be successful

Jason embodies the values of the Advocate Health System of patient care and incorporates these into the training program for assimilating new nurses to Good Shepherd's Emergency Department. Compassion for patients is demonstrated with every interaction. He is able to make every patient feel comfortable with him and that he will provide the highest quality of care for them while listening and integrating their own cultural or personal needs. Excellence is part of his DNA, he continually strives to raise the standard of excellence for others to follow and both teach and inspire others to follow. He is the consummate team player, whether he is in a leadership role or as a team member. Always looking for ways to assist others and by default providing better patient care while shortening the time the patient and their family spend in the Emergency Department. The new nurse is able to experience the values and powerful impact they have on the patient, their family and other staff members in the Emergency Department and other areas of the Hospital. This establishes a goal and a standard for both the new nurse and veterans to achieve.

Jason is very thoughtful and methodical in planning and executing a program to bring a new nurse from any level, whether it is a new graduate from nursing school to an experienced nurse, but new to the Emergency Department. To maximize the training he uses a dynamic multi-phase approach. First is analyzing the new nurses background, knowledge base and skill set, which he does through interactive questioning and scenarios, and observation. Second is establishing a series phases required to insure a strong foundation and third to develop a series of phases to provide the knowledge base and familiarity with systems and processes. Jason uses a dynamic approach: allowing for progression through the different phases and adjusting accordingly, based upon the new nurse's progression. He then proactively finds opportunities for the new nurse to enhance areas that need further development by creating scenarios and identifying teaching opportunities. As an example, if the new nurse lacks experience in working with stroke patients, Jason will coordinate with the Patient Care Leader (PCL) / Charge Nurse to insure that the new nurse will have the opportunity to care for several of these patients. He will guide them through the process and care initially and then gradually step back allowing the new nurse to take over more of the care until they are running the care for the stroke patient. After each event he will critique the new nurse by initially asking what they felt went well and what areas they felt they could have done better and why. The case will then be dissected carefully to insure it is a positive learning experience, with his recommendations on improvements and the rationale. This facilitates a better understanding by the new nurse as they review how they approached the situation and compare it with how they might have approached it, thereby creating and reinforcing a teaching moment.

One of his greatest strengths as a mentor, preceptor and leader is his ability to view situations from different perspectives. He does not have a set agenda or program, but instead remains dynamic, adjusting to the progress of the new nurse, he will offer alternatives to the new nurse so they can try different methods and then can select the method or approach that best fits them. This builds on the new nurse's strengths, increases their comfort level and confidence in their skills

Communication is critical on all levels through out this process. The first is the communication between the nurse and the patient and their family. He ingrains the need to communicate effectively with the patient and their family to help establish a bond of trust and caring, thereby making that important patient connection. Informing the patient and family of what the plan is, where they are in the plan and what is going on in the present and will be required in the future. This is one of the fundamental building blocks of a good foundation.

Jason is excellent in communicating with the New Student. Goals and objectives are identified and agreed upon in the beginning and continually updated throughout the process. He believes that for communication to be effective it must be a two-way path, with the participation of both parties. Therefore, he continually provides positive reinforcement and offers areas for improvement and then seeks feedback from the new nurse to insure they understand the teaching points, on how they feel they are progressing and seeks input on ways or methods that he can employ to improve their learning experience. This can be additional learning situations or how he can change his teaching approach. It is a very constructive environment for both.

Jason also recognizes the different skill sets of other nurses in the Emergency Department and broadens the new nurse's training by arranging for nurses with additional skill sets to preceptor the new nurse. This also broadens the exposure of the new nurse to other team member and enhances their comfort level to call on these additional resources in the future.

Through out the process Jason remains focused on the patient: providing excellent care in a timely manner, while allowing them to provide input, such as cultural preferences. He answers their questions and keeps them informed so they know they are in good hands. He always leads by example and does not believe in meeting the standard, but always striving to set new standards for others to follow. The new nurse is able to develop a sound foundation through experiences and input provided by Jason, develop confidence, identify resources and enhance their nursing skills through their experience. At the end of the orientation the new nurse feels comfortable moving into the department, not as the new nurse, but as a member of an integrated team that works together, helps each other provide excellent patient care.