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Simplifying new grad orientation on a schedule

Nurse Leader Weekly, March 31, 2008

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A ticking clock and the need to fill more than 50 nursing slots in the ICU could have easily turned into a disaster at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. For nurse managers, this meant devising a new system.

To prepare for the opening of a 29-bed medical ICU (MICU) in April 2006, changes were made to accommodate this large group of new nurses that not only proved successful in orientation, but brought long-term benefits such as retention.

• Color-coded scheduling made a visible impact on the way orientees were paired with their preceptors and assisted charge nurses when making appropriate educational assignments.
• A chart was created containing information such as orientees' experience levels, hire date, preceptors, and potential dates of completion of their orientation. Classes pertaining to subjects specific to the MICU patient population were added into the schedule prior to completion of the orientation period-allowing the management team to assess the progress of each orientee on a weekly basis.
• Weekly meetings with the preceptor, orientee, and the management team were held to review each orientee's progress. The management team then met to discuss issues and plan for interventions to keep the orientation process on track.
• Classes planned for the orientees gave them the chance to build relationships and form camaraderie with individuals from outside the MICU, which ultimately improved communication between units.

Editor's note: This excerpt was adapted from the article "New grad orientation program boosts growing ICU," featured in the Reading Room on HCPro's new online resource center, www.StrategiesForNurseManagers.com. To read the full article, click here. Interested in a free trial membership that will give you 30 days to "test drive" all the exciting features on the Web site? Click here to learn more.

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