STAF129-0312: Effective Staff Meetings and Training - Continual Education

STAF129-0312: Effective Staff Meetings and Training

INSTRUCTOR(S): Heather Howell, RVT, LVT, MBA

COURSE OPEN: March 1-25, 2012

REAL TIME SESSIONS (RTS): Thursdays, March 8 and 15, 2012; 9:30pm-11:00pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter
Practice Sessions: In order to prepare you for a successful experience in your CE course, we request you attend a practice session prior to the first Real Time Session. Times and dates will be listed in your course confirmation email. Expect to spend up to 1 hour at one of the 2-4 practice sessions held prior to the first Real Time Session.

* The instructor for this course will be using audio for some portions of the course which will require you to have a headset or speakers to listen. If you have any concerns regarding your computer's audio capabilities, please be sure to attend a Practice Session.

Level and Prerequisites: This advanced course is focused primarily toward veterinary practice managers, hospital administrators, supervisors and those involved in the planning and conducting of the staff meetings.
VSPN CE Course. This course has been submitted for RACE approval for veterinarians and veterinary technicians and is VHMA approved for CVPM credits.

Course Description:
The goal of this course is to enable and empower veterinary practice leaders to effectively plan and conduct staff meetings that enhance staff training and problem solving. The course will cover how to schedule meetings, how to plan meeting agendas, what should be discussed at meetings and how to keep meetings on track. The course will also discuss how to increase learning at meetings and decrease the poor morale, attendance, and 'bad' feelings.

This course will consist of two (2) ninety (90) minute Real Time Sessions, supplemental library materials, interactive message board discussions, a mandatory end-of-course test, and may include online multiple choice quizzes (after each Real Time Session). Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to be considered for a course certificate of completion.
** The question and answer portion of this course will be an audio presentation. Please be prepared to listen.

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to

arrange scheduling regarding staff meetings to minimize issues.
determine alternatives for poor attendance at staff meetings.
devise ways to improve employee morale regarding staff meetings.
plan and conduct staff meetings that allow continuous learning to occur.
reconstruct meeting agendas to avoid common pitfalls regarding meetings.
integrate team members in training and participation at meetings.
support your staff meetings and make them fun.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.

Required Texbook(s):T here is no required textbook for this course.

About the Instructor: Heather Howell has taught numerous courses online for VSPN and has developed this course to help you better communicate with your peers and co-workers in- and outside the office. This course covers those essential skills needed to evaluate your communications and become more effective in your interactions.

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session March 8): How to Kill a Meeting AND How to Bring Meetings Back to Life
Content: During this lecture we will discuss common pitfalls regarding staff meetings. Learn what to avoid when planning meetings and common barriers during meetings. Learn what to do to make your meetings more effective. We will discuss scheduling meetings, what to do about poor attendance at meetings, setting meeting agendas, staying on track and on time, and how to make meetings fun and energized.

Week 2 (Real Time Session March 15): Getting Staff Involved, Energized and Learning
Content: This session will cover involving your entire team in staff meetings. Learn how to involve your staff in training. We will discuss how to manage staff resistance and negativity. We will cover problem solving activities, team building methods, and training topic ideas.

CE HOURS: 3

Tuition: $60 ($54 early bird special if enrolled by February 16, 2012).
*Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CAAHT approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status).
** To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first Real Time Session unless otherwise noted. If the first Real Time Session is on a weekend, course will close on the Friday before the first Real Time Session.

**For more on how online CE works see the Participant Resource Center

Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
For further assistance call 1-800-700-INFO (4636) or email (VIN CE) CEonVIN@vin.com or (VSPN CE) VSPNCE@vspn.org). Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.

Note: "This course has been submitted for approval for 3 continuing education credits in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education." Call VSPN CE at 1-800-700-4636 for further information. (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board).

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN/VSPN office 1-800-700-INFO (4636) to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.
**Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN/VSPN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).

** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out https://www.vin.com/CE/VSPN/VSPN_M02231.htm

Nanette R. Walker Smith, M.Ed., RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & VSPN CE Director

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-756-4881 or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452226154
Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org), ext 193
Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197
Darci Palmer (Darci@vspn.org); ext 179
Debbie Bess (DBess@vspn.org); ext 178
Jennifer Withrow (Jennifer@vspn.org); ext 159
Nanette Walker Smith (Nanette@vspn.org); ext 187

800.700.4636 | CEonVIN@vin.com | 530.756.4881 | Fax: 530.756.6035
777 West Covell Blvd, Davis, CA 95616
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