Shift change for nurses was radically redefined in 2004 when nurses and the Innovation Consultancy co-designed a system called Nurse Knowledge Exchange (NKE). A system ahead of its time, it brought the nurses to the bedside for shift change, and transformed the experience to be with the patient, not just about the patient. Nurses felt safer. Patients felt more cared for.

Over the years, nurses wondered how this time could be optimized and better supported from distractions. In 2009, the IC teamed up once again with nurses to reimagine shift change, creating NKEplus.

NKEplus has six essential components. It protects and optimizes the original NKE by better preparing the unit and coordinating its roles.

Impact
Pilot results indicate the NKEplus improves process reliability and allows nurse to spend more time at the bedside with their patients. Our nurses are feeling more supported, and patients are getting more direct interaction with their nurses.

A Guidebook for Change

The NKEplus change package is an all-inclusive guide for implementing NKEplus on a hospital unit.

The book consists of 3 sections: Overview, Playbook, and Toolkit. 

The Overview, geared toward hospital leadership, provides information about the six parts of NKEplus as well as the goals, background, and pilot data showing its success.

The Playbook outlines a five-stage process for rolling out NKEplus on a hospital unit, complete with examples from other hospitals that have sucessfully done so.  

The Toolkit highlights a series of optional graphic and communication tools that may be helpful for rolling out NKEplus and comes with a CD containing all necessary files for modifying and printing these tools.

 

Pre-printed versions of the NKEplus change package are available for purchase at the

Innovation Consultancy Print Shop (printed by Autumn Press).

 

Places where NKEplus is spreading

 

The following Kaiser Permanente hospitals have implemented NKEplus in one or more units:
-Sacramento, CA
-Santa Clara, CA

-Woodland Hills, CA

-Moanalua, HI

-Sunnyside, OR

NKEplus Tools for Communication

Rolling out NKEplus on a unit is a fun and exciting process, but its success relies on excellent communication between the project manager/Improvement Advisor and the rest of the unit. To make things easier, we provide some of the most commonly used tools for rolling out and supporting NKEplus below.

Tools are separated by section according to the rollout process covered in the NKEplus change package. In some cases, tools come in a variety of formats to let you decide which would be most impactful in your unit. Hang up a poster! Hand out sheets at huddles! Provide stickers for people to put on their scrubbs! We hope you will use these tools and perhaps even modify them to make them your own!

Pre-printed tools/assets as well as a complete set of tools can also be ordered through our Innovation Consultancy Print Shop (printed by Autumn Press).

Pre-Kickoff Prep

 

Kickoff

 

PDSA Planning

 

Rolling out with the entire unit

 

 

 

 

Sustainability

 

Video Library

Having trouble doing NKEplus? Curious to see how other nurses are doing it? Check out some of the short videos below that show real examples of NKEplus and include "pop-up" tips and tricks from some of the best nurses in the field.

 

NKEplus Pop-up Videos

 

More videos

Kaiser Permanente Resources

Kaiser Permanente employees may access additional training modules and share with others about NKEplus using the links below (active from within Kaiser Permanente facilities only).