MU Launches New Microlearning Program for Healthcare Staff
Learn at your convenience.
By Medline University Staff | August 9, 2023
Continuous learning and development are of utmost importance for healthcare staff and nurses. However, in a busy healthcare environment, it can be challenging to find the time and resources to stay up-to-date with the latest information. Microlearning offers an effective solution to this problem.
What is Microlearning?
For nurses and healthcare staff who are unfamiliar with the term, microlearning refers to a learning approach that delivers information in small segments. For healthcare workers that are always on the go, this is a perfect tool to access information quickly and easily. Microlearning courses can be completed on a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops. This makes it easy for learners to access education and training materials no matter where they are.
How Does Microlearning Benefit Nurses and Healthcare Staff?
Here are four ways microlearning is beneficial for nurses and healthcare staff:
1. Saves time
Microlearning delivers information in short, concise modules, so nurses and healthcare staff can access the information they need without committing to lengthy training sessions. According to a study by Deloitte, microlearning can reduce training time by 50%, making this learning approach an efficient use of nurses' valuable time.1
2. Accessible and flexible
There is a growing demand for flexible and accessible education.2 Since microlearning can be accessed on a variety of devices, it makes it easy to consume learning materials from anywhere at any time.
3. Promotes active learning
Microlearning is designed to promote active learning. It encourages engagement with the material through scenarios, quizzes, games, and other interactive activities. According to a study published in PNAs, active learning can be more effective than passive learning, allowing nurses and healthcare staff to better retain and apply what they've learned.3
4. Addresses specific needs
According to research published in the Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, tailored education improved nurses’ knowledge and job performance.4 Since microlearning is tailored to meet specific learning needs, it ensures that nurses and healthcare staff have the information they need to perform their jobs effectively. In addition, microlearning courses can be created to provide targeted information on a variety of topics. For example, a nurse may need to learn more about a particular medical condition or procedure.
In summary, microlearning is a valuable tool for nurses and healthcare staff, providing a flexible, accessible way to deliver ongoing education and training. By embracing microlearning, nurses can enhance their skills and knowledge, stay up-to-date on evidence-based practices and improve patient outcomes. This leads to improved healthcare overall.
Medline University’s Microlearning Courses
To say that nurses and healthcare staff are busy is an understatement. Here at Medline University, we know that your time is valuable. That is why we created a mobile-friendly microlearning program. During your commute or on your lunch break, you can complete our microlearning courses on your phone, tablet or computer in less than 15 minutes. Check out Medline University's newest microlearning courses below to increase your knowledge and keep your skills sharp, and bookmark our dedicated microlearning page to stay up to date with our newest offerings.
1. CAUTI Prevention (Microlearning)
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the most common healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and can occur in both hospitals and long-term care settings. The best way to prevent CAUTIs is to use indwelling urinary catheters (IUCs) only when necessary and for the shortest amount of time.
This course will discuss when it is appropriate to use an indwelling urinary catheter (IUC), review standards for catheter removal and examine best practices for CAUTI prevention. To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
2. Indwelling Urinary Catheters for Healthcare Assistants (Microlearning)
There are times when it becomes necessary to assist in urinary elimination for residents by using indwelling catheters. Nursing assistants provide daily care of the catheter when the resident has an indwelling catheter for urinary drainage. This care is necessary to help minimize the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
This course will review the basics of indwelling urinary catheters (IUCs), identify fifteen steps for routine catheter care, examine infection risk and discuss common signs of infection. To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
3. Self-Care for Nurses (Microlearning)
Self-care for nurses is vital to maintaining optimal health, which is a necessary component of safe patient care delivery. The nursing profession is one of the most trusted and ethical professions. In fact, the nursing profession has been ranked as the top most trusted profession for the last twenty years in a row in a Gallup poll. Nurses have a long history of caring for patients, and often choose the profession out of the desire to help others. But, do nurses apply that same level of care to themselves? Studies have shown that may not always be the case.
This course will define the 8 key concept areas of self-care, discuss the importance of self-care, explore the benefits of self-care and assess strategies to increase participation in self-care. To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
4. Workplace Violence: Types and Risk Factors (Microlearning)
Workplace violence (WPV) spans all settings, not just healthcare. However, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), hospitals are one of the most hazardous places to work; and one factor is workplace violence.
This course will define WPV and its background and examine types of WPV including bullying and incivility. To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
5. Workplace Violence: Barriers to Reporting and Prevention Strategies (Microlearning)
Violence against healthcare workers is at epidemic proportions. Workplace violence is a growing and serious problem in healthcare. Employers and nurses have an obligation and responsibility to help create a safe and healthy work environment for everyone.
This course will discuss the consequences of WPV for the individual and nursing profession, examine the short- and long-term effects of WPV, review barriers to reporting incidents of WPV and explore strategies to prevent or mitigate WPV. To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
6. Batting the Opioid Epidemic (Microlearning)
The prescription painkiller epidemic involving opioid use is a serious concern. Across the United States, it is affecting patient care and safety, the delivery of healthcare and healthcare costs. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cites several devastating consequences that can result from prescription drug misuse including falls and fractures in older adults, rising incidence of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, the transition to injection drug use (which has the associated risk of infection with pathogens such as hepatitis C and HIV) and increasing morbidity and mortality. It is crucial that nurses understand the opioid epidemic and their important role in reversing this trend.
This course will explain the significance of opioid addiction in the U.S., describe the signs, symptoms, and treatment of opioid misuse and withdrawal, and list at least three steps to prevent opioid misuse, including alternatives to treating pain. To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
7. Culturally Competent Care (Microlearning)
The American population has become more diverse in composition than ever. Nurses must be more than clinically competent to provide quality care, they must also be culturally competent. This course provides an overview of skills necessary for nurses and others to become culturally competent in providing patient care in any healthcare setting.
This course will define culturally competent care and the nurse's role in that care model, describe common barriers to cultural competency, and describe the role of communication and language in providing culturally competent care. To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
8. Safety Culture: Communication Lessons (Microlearning)
Communication is at the heart of safety. Without excellent communication skills, an organization can suffer, and patient safety can be greatly affected. This course examines barriers for speaking up and explores strategies to improve workplace culture and communication. To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
9. Recognizing Domestic Violence (Microlearning)
Domestic violence (often referred to as "intimate partner violence") is a health problem of enormous proportions—one that affects people of every race, culture, and socioeconomic group. Types of abuse associated with domestic abuse include sexual and physical assault, stalking, and homicide. In addition to physical violence, victims often suffer from psychological trauma.
While this epidemic of domestic violence is of great concern, it is often not recognized and therefore not dealt with appropriately in the healthcare setting. The goal of this course is to define and discuss domestic violence, also known as intimate partner domestic violence. To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
10. Patient-centered Care for LGBTQIA+ Patients (Microlearning)
All patients should feel comfortable providing information necessary for their care and should be treated with dignity and respect. Caregivers, nurses and other healthcare professionals are responsible for providing a level of high-quality care to all patient populations, including LGBTQIA+ patients. As LGBTQIA+ people often experience inequalities in healthcare, nurses working with this population should understand how to help and better serve LGBTQIA+ patients. The goal of this course is to train healthcare professionals in the skills to effectively communicate with and serve LGBTQIA+ patients.
This course is designed to help nurses understand the health and social challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ patients, particularly discrimination in healthcare settings, in order to create a safe and affirming environment for LGBTQIA+ patients. To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
11. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) (Microlearning)
STIs are a worldwide problem and rates have been increasing over time. STIs can burden the healthcare system and have a major effect on short-term sexual health and long-term reproductive health outcomes.
This course reviews how to screen for, test for and diagnose STIs while examining risk factors, prevention methods and educational strategies. To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
13. Bloodborne Pathogens (Microlearning)
It is important to know what bloodborne pathogens are in order to prevent transmission. The purpose of this microlearning course is to educate participants on bloodborne pathogens, Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) guidelines, rules and regulations, and the use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE). To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
14. Emergency Preparedness (Microlearning)
Healthcare organizations must prepare for a range of emergencies, including violent acts that are increasingly common in the U.S., power outages that can test emergency plans, and extreme weather events resulting from changing climates. The process of being prepared in an emergency involves planning, training, and evaluating different scenarios to mitigate future occurrences. The goal of emergency preparedness is to safeguard the facility, its staff, and its patients. To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
15. Coronavirus (COVID-19): Identification, Testing and Treatment Options (Microlearning)
This course will provide nurses and other healthcare professionals with information about the risk factors that make a person susceptible to contracting COVID-19 as well as its clinical presentation for various age groups. To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
16. Coronavirus (COVID-19): Infection Control Strategies (Microlearning)
This course will provide the different types of FDA-approved vaccinations, review the importance of prevention strategies, and explain the use of the CDC's Transmission-based Precautions and guidelines for the isolation of patients both at home and in healthcare facilities. To learn more about this course, click here. To take the course, click here.
- Deloitte. (2015). Meet the Modern Learner: Engaging the Overwhelmed, Distracted, and Impatient Employee. Retrieved from https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/human-capital/us-learning-fact-or-fiction.pdf
- Ambient Insight. (2016). The 2016-2021 Worldwide Mobile Learning Market. Retrieved from https://www.ambientinsight.com/Resources/Documents/Ambient-Insight-2016-2021-Worldwide-Mobile-Learning-Market.pdf
- Freeman, S., Eddy, S. L., McDonough, M., Smith, M. K., Okoroafor, N., Jordt, H., & Wenderoth, M. P. (2014). Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(23), 8410-8415.
- Ren, J., Jiang, J., & Chen, Y. (2019). The effect of tailored nursing education on the knowledge and practice of surgical nurses. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 9(1), 65-72.
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