Floor Walks: The Change of Staff That Changes Everything

For Administrators, Directors of Nursing and Staffing Coordinators who want to change resident care, starting with the next change of shift.

‍

It starts with leadership

Two things change resident care more than almost anything else: strict requirements for excellence in care, and excellence in floor assignments. Both start with leadership. When the Administrator, the Director of Nursing and the Staffing Coordinator set the standard and model it, the floor follows.

Recently, we met a Director of Nursing who wants to bring "floor walks" to her building: oncoming and off-going staff walking every room together at change of shift. We loved it so much that we want to share how to make it stick.

‍

What is a Floor Walk?

Floor Walk: At change of shift, the oncoming and off-going CNA or LPN walk into each and every room on the assignment together, put eyes on every resident, and say hello, wave, or do whatever it takes to connect, while the off-going staff member gives a verbal report.

The first few walks may mean that both CNAs tidy up one or two rooms along the way. That's the point. Every walk gets easier, and before long, the residents start to expect it. They stop seeing the oncoming staff as "a new shift" and start seeing a changing of the guard: a refreshed team ready to love, care and serve.

‍

How a Floor Walk works:

1. Get the assignment. The oncoming CNA or LPN gets their assignment from the floor charge nurse.
2. Find the off-going staff member. The oncoming staff member finds the person they're relieving.
3. Walk through every room together. Eyes on every resident, a hello or a wave, and a quick tidy where needed.
4. Give a verbal report along the way. The off-going staff member reports on each resident, room by room, using the assignment list.
5. Check in with the charge nurse. When the walk is complete, staff members let the charge nurse know, and the charge nurse then hands out the Golden Tickets.

Floor Walks include everyone on the floor: your own staff and agency staff alike.

‍

The Golden Ticket raffle

The best way to make Floor Walks a required habit is to reward them. We recommend a weekly Golden Ticket raffle.

How a CNA or LPN earns a Golden Ticket:

• Complete a Floor Walk at the beginning of the shift (receiving report as the oncoming staff member), and
• Complete a Floor Walk at the end of the shift (giving report to the oncoming staff member).
• When both walks are done, the charge nurse hands over a Golden Ticket for Friday's raffle.
• Double shift, plus an internal Floor Walk in the middle of the double shift Double entries (2).

For the raffle bowl: Each Golden Ticket has two matching halves. Write your name and title on the half that goes into the raffle bowl, so leadership knows who to contact when that number is drawn, and keep the matching half.

The drawing: Every Friday, draw from the week's Golden Tickets. Make the prizes something worth working for, and build them together with your entire leadership team. Those who work in excellence should see that their excellence has real value.

‍

Introducing Floor Walks to your team

Make Floor Walks a requirement, and introduce them warmly, because a new habit lasts longer when the team understands why.

• Start with a staff meeting. Explain what a Floor Walk is, why it matters to residents, and how the Golden Ticket raffle works.
• Post the definition. Put the definition of a Floor Walk at the nurses' station and in the break room so everyone sees it every shift.
• If your team is reluctant, lead by example. Have the DON and charge nurses join the first walks, celebrate the first Golden Ticket winners, and share what residents say.
• Keep it going. Announce Friday's winners, thank everyone who earned a ticket, and refresh the prizes.

‍

Let's start a new trail today

Reward your team. Acknowledge them. Value their excellence. It starts from within your facility.

Don't grow weary. Anything is possible. Don't give up. Excellence starts from within, and it's already in your heart.

‍

Love, Care, Serve‍

Coastal Care Staffing

‍

‍

‍

‍