I can’t believe it’s been another year! That’s right, folks. Another year as a hospital employee has rolled around, and as my special anniversary comes up I am rewarded with the honor of completing my annually required CBLs. It’s basically like getting a cake and almost as good as a raise.
I personally consider CBLs to rank right up there with mandatory, fifteen minute meetings on my list of all-time faves. I enjoy completing them so much that I really had a difficult time compiling all the things I love about them in one concise list, but I suppose if I had to narrow it down to three things that make me absolutely adore annual, computer based learning then these would make the cut.
1. They’re always pertinent.
I find that the information contained in CBL modules always relates well with my current job. After all, I think most nurses would agree that being cognizant of what year the first hip replacement was performed is detrimental to good patient care delivery. Plus it’s really important to know what exactly a Thebesian Vein is, and where to find Erb’s point. Subsequently it’s not a Shakespearean actor performing at Globe’s Theatre.
It’s not easy cramming so much useless information into a sandwich of content useful for the job, but CBLs manage to bring it home. What nurse could perform their duties correctly without being reminded yearly not to plug in an appliance with a frayed electrical cord that you brought from home? And who doesn’t need reinforcement of Erickson’s psychological stages of development? Of note, don’t try and tell a toddler to do something exactly like you do it as an adult. Apparently that doesn’t work. I’ll keep this in mind when visitors under twelve enter my critical care unit.
2. The content is consistent in nature and relevant to my knowledge and skill level.
This is probably my favorite. The great thing about CBL tests is that they are consistently consistent. What I mean is that you never end up taking one test with obviously asinine questions that could be answered correctly by my four year old then turn around and take another test that couldn’t be passed by Einstein or Stephen Hawking.
It’s true. It’s not like the questions are obviously, painstakingly gathered to meet an educational requirement. You never have to worry about taking a test with preschool level “don’t take a cookie without asking” type questions, and then right afterwards take a test five times in a row to make a 100 on the questions that are based on medical school equivalent curriculum. Man, if that were the case I would probably want to drive an ice pick through my skull. Repeatedly.
3. I never procrastinate.
Since I enjoy the content of the learning modules so much I always finish them early. I can often be seen at the beginning of the year camped out in front of a work computer, salivating in anticipation of completing my annually required training.
I tell you what I don’t do. I never wait until two weeks before they’re due to complete all 837 modules at once. If that were the case I probably wouldn’t even have time to complete the required courses, and I’d just end up taking the tests on the fly, hoping that when I failed the correct answers would be provided at the end for my next go-round. Glad I don’t do that. That would probably induce another ice pick in the brain desire.
I did happen to save a few until the end, though, just to prolong the pleasure. And as I completed the last one today I’m sure my emotional release could be heard across the globe. Indeed racking sobs of grief over being unable to read about HIPPA regulations for the rest of the year escaped me in a huge wave. I’m certain they were tears of sadness; certainly not those of joyful relief.