Evolving Orientation for Graduate Nurses Who Were Educated During COVID-19

Abstract

Graduate nurses displayed a difficult time integrating into bedside nursing due to the reduction or elimination of in-person clinical experience related to COVID-19 precautions. Because they had limited clinical experiences, new graduate nurses needed more educational focus, as exhibited by poor progression throughout orientation. Routine orientation procedures used previously were not meeting the needs of the graduate nurses, as exhibited by increases in orientation time and turnover rate. Nursing education and leadership on inpatient women’s health, obstetric, or neonatal units. Implementation of a new orientation toolkit, with weekly expectations for the learner. This system is accompanied by rounding on the orientees biweekly to determine their educational needs and online learning formats to supplement clinical experience. The orientation toolkit includes a color-coded system, like a stoplight, to indicate expectations for patient assignments and skills. The color-coding system indicates expectations for the patient assignments and skill checklists. This system provides transparency between the preceptor and orientee to determine if expectations have been met. The orientation toolkit and check-ins with the leadership aim to improve communication with graduate nurses. The clinical experiences are paired with online learning modules to ensure a well-rounded orientation. A survey was conducted to determine the level of nurse satisfaction with nursing orientation. Survey respondents included nurses who completed orientation before the change and now are precepting with the new education plan, nurses who completed orientation before the new education plan, and nurses who were on orientation with the new education plan. Of 29 respondents, 72.7% reported a positive change in orientation and satisfaction with orientation. In a comparison of new-nurse turnover data from January 2021 to December 2021 and January 2022 to June 2022, there was a decrease in turnover, from 52.4% to 20.9%. To increase the knowledge base of nursing education to increase nursing satisfaction and decrease turnover.