Connect

(Pictured above, from top left: Ann Rebera, MSN, RN, NPD-BC; Ashley Mangum, MSN, RN, CNL; Reagan Heale; Krystal-Flora Dureke, MS, CMA; Shelby Lighton BSN, RN, CCRN, CPN; Deanna Pototschnik, MSN, RN, NPD-BC; Katherine Talley, MBA, PMP, CSM. From bottom left: Mary Coffey, PhD, MPH, RN, NEA-BC, TIPC; Mariah A. Rogers MSN, RN, CCRN, NEA-BC; Megan Flick MSN, RN, PCCN, SCRN; Kathryn McGough MSN, RN, NPD-BC. Not pictured — but part of the team! — Jennifer C. Kastello, PhD, WHNP, RN; Natalie Koestner, MSN, RN, GERO-BC; Sarah Shreckhise, MSN, RN.)

For years, many UVA Health University Medical Center nurse educators have managed staff competencies through binders, paper forms, and manual tracking. But on July 20, 2026 — University Medical Center will go live with Kahuna, a digital competency platform supporting documentation for the Tiered Skills Acquisition Model (TSAM®). TSAM® is a phased orientation model that helps learners move from observation to hands-on practice to greater independence — while Kahuna provides the digital structure to document and track that progress.

The launch reflects months of work by Nursing Professional Development leaders, unit educators, managers, clinical teams, project management partners, and the Kahuna vendor team. It also has required coordination across multiple systems and workstreams including HIT integration, Workday modules, and learning resources. Future optimizations include annual competency processes, certification tracking, and local document integration. 

The go-live on July 20 will include all new nurses, social workers, unlicensed assistive personnel within University Medical Center. The rollout will then continue in phases between August 2026 and June 2027 bringing existing nurses, social workers, and nursing support staff — as well as specialty nursing roles and nurse externs — onto the platform. University Medical Center also plans to expand Kahuna to additional areas, such as respiratory therapy and radiology, in the near future.

Moving Away From Paper

The move to Kahuna responds to a longstanding need. Co-leads of the Kahuna implementation — Kathryn McGough, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, Clinical Lead, Nursing Professional Development, and Megan Flick, MSN, RN, PCCN, SCRN — say historically, University Medical Center has relied on a paper-based binder system for competency documentation.

“We've had a paper-based competency system for forever,” McGough explains. “You can imagine how challenging that is.”

Flick, a self-described “binder keeper,” adds, “We're going to be transitioning away from paper very happily!”

'A Small Piece of the Whole'

Supporting our UVA Health strategic plan goal of strengthening our foundation through critical and appreciable investments to modernize our operations to make it easier for our teams to provide care — in 2024, University Medical Center evaluated several digital competency platforms before selecting Kahuna as its preferred vendor. The implementation kicked off in early January, with a target go-live date of July 20.

McGough emphasizes that Kahuna is one part of a larger transformation around TSAM® competency development and documentation. “Kahuna is the tool by which we will document the TSAM® competencies,” she says. “It’s a small piece of the whole.”

Building Competencies

“The most important goal of a tiered orientation model is to ensure that every new team member achieves role-specific competency and practice readiness in a safe, consistent, and efficient manner,” says Mary Coffey, PhD, MPH, RN, NEA-BC, Director, Nursing Professional Development. “A tiered orientation model moves beyond a 'one-size-fits-all' approach by matching orientation requirements to complexity of the role, learner's prior experience, and practice setting. The ultimate aim is to help team members transition safely into independent practice while supporting retention and professional growth.”

Flick says organizations already using this approach have found that it can “expedite orientation in a more meaningful way" — helping new team members get what they need while moving through the process efficiently.

What Can Educators and Managers Can Expect?

• For educators and managers — Kahuna offers a clearer, more organized view of each team member’s competency progression. Flick says that will make a significant difference at the unit level. “I look forward to the organization that Kahuna is going to bring. Instead of pulling binders and reviewing records one by one, I’ll be able to see all of my team members at once, and where they are in their progression, and what needs to get done.”
• Kahuna will allow educators and managers to view trends across teams. “We’ll be able to pull up our entire team matrix in one screen,” Flick describes, with the ability to filter even more by direct reports, specific orientees, or other groups.
• Kahuna will help standardize how competencies move from self-assessment to validation and final verification. Team members will complete a self-assessment when they feel ready to demonstrate a competency. “The preceptor validates that readiness, and if they demonstrate competency in that skill, they’ll sign them off,” McGough details. From there, the unit educator and manager verify that team member has completed the necessary components of their tier during regular check-ins.
• Kahuna will connect competencies with learning resources including policies, procedures, equipment resources, and Workday learning modules. “As a new hire, I can click on this learning resource,” McGough says. “It might launch a policy, a procedure, or an information sheet — or it might direct me to a Workday learning module.”

The platform is designed to be easy to use. As user feedback indicates: “If you can shop on Amazon, you can use this system!”

Grassroots, Cross-System Effort

The implementation brought together Nursing Professional Development leaders, unit-based educators, managers, clinical teams, project management, Workday and IT partners, and the Kahuna vendor team. A co-lead for the digital competency team, Deanna Pototschnik, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, Clinical Leader, Nursing Professional Development, says broad collaboration is intentional, with units participating in workbook and crosswalk activities and work groups including educators, managers, directors, and team members from across different areas.

“This very much is a grassroots buy-in process to make sure everybody really collaborates effectively in the system development,” Pototschnik shares. “It’s not us saying, ‘You will use this system, and this is how you will do it.’ This is us saying, ‘These are our statements, and now, how does that work for your unit?’”

'Top Notch'

McGough estimates more than 75 people have helped with the implementation. “The excitement is palpable!” she says.

Katherine Talley, MBA, PMP, CSM, Senior Project Manger, Program Management Office, says the project team’s dedication has been matched by a strong vendor partnership. “I’ve been doing this type of work for more than a decade, and lots of vendor implementations. The Kahuna team — they are just top notch!”

Visit the Kahuna webpage for updated information and resources.