Designing Effective Orientation Programs (Audio Conference)

AUDIOCONFERENCE ON TAPE OR CD

Sponsored by Designing Nursing Orientation:Evidence-Based Strategies for Effective Programs

presented on June 8, 2006

The best retention strategy starts on day one—at orientation

Get staff started on the right foot and watch them thrive for years to come.

Effective orientation programs are vital for the long-term success of new employees. Evidence shows that staff who receive good orientations are more likely to settle in well and thrive in the environment.

But even the most experienced staff educator would agree, providing an interesting and effective orientation program for new nurses is a stressful and daunting task:

• How much can you teach new staff in such a short amount of time?
• What are the crucial issues that need to be covered?
• How do you choose an education model that will suit all learning styles and situations?

Transition new nurses successfully and increase retention potential.

Learn best practices, tips, and tools to design new employee orientation programs for all types of nurses during this 90-minute audioconference. Our nurse education specialists will address design challenges and offer fun, creative, and informative strategies that can be implemented immediately—whether your new employee orientation is just beginning or being dressed for even greater success.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Identify at least three best practices in new employee orientation
• Describe at least one design for planning and implementing a new employee orientation
• List at least two methods for measuring successful new employee orientation
• State at least three methods for teaching organization information to new employees
• Describe how to plan a new employee orientation for diverse groups of new nurses: New graduates, experienced nurses, travelers, agency and contract staff, and new managers.
• Identify at least one tip and/or tool that can bring new energy and/or creativity to a current new employee orientation program.

PROGRAM AGENDA

1. Best practices in new employee orientation
   
   
2. Planning a program
• Program designs
• Case studies
• Measuring outcomes
  
  
3. Variety of teaching methods
• Games
• Activities
  
  
4. Orienting nurses
• New graduates
• Experienced nurses
• Travelers, agency and contract staff
• New managers


5. Tips and tools for successful programs



6. Question & answer session

FACULTY

Diana Swihart, PhD, DMin, MSN, CS, APRN,BC, is a clinical nurse specialist in nursing education at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, Florida. Dr. Swihart has a widely diverse background in many professional nursing arenas, theology, ministry, ancient Near Eastern studies, and archaeology. She is a member of the editorial advisory board for Advance for Nurses, Florida edition, and has published and spoken on a number of topics related to nursing, shared governance, competency assessment, education, and staff development, both locally and nationally. She has served as an ANCC Magnet appraiser and is currently the treasurer for the National Nursing Staff Development Organization (NNSDO). Her training and experiences, including those in academic and staff development education, give her a broad and balanced perspective of nursing that influences and colors all that she does as she creatively challenges and encourages others through professional nurse development in professional practice environments of care.

Alice D. Morales-Rullan, MSN, CS, is a clinical nurse specialist at Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, Florida. Mrs. Morales-Rullan has a diverse background in nursing education, medical surgical and ICU experience, administration, staff development, nursing supervisor, and former nurse recruiter. She is a primary consultant in the development of nursing procedures and protocols and a leader for the implementation of a variety of recruitment and retention proposals at the VA Healthcare System. She has been a facilitator for the implementation of focus groups, customer service training, process improvement teams and for the hospital and nursing orientation programs. Her clinical and educational experience has been a key element in guiding employees to constantly evaluate their own performance and encourages them to assist others in this ongoing process.

BONUS MATERIALS INCLUDED IN YOUR MATERIAL PACKET!

In addition to the expertise and advice presented during this audioconference, you'll also receive a slide presentation of the program materials and tools including:

• A new employee orientation program for general nursing staff and one for new nurse managers, including the clinical orientation agenda
• Evaluation form
• Games and learning activities
• Program designs and case studies
• Sample checklists and surveys
• Tips for enhancing new employee orientation for nurses
• Bibliography for developing professional practice employees

These materials will be provided with PDF links.

WHO SHOULD LISTEN?

• Staff educators
• Nurse managers
• Directors of nursing
• Chief nursing officers
• VPs of nursing
• Nursing home administrators
• HR directors
• RNs

Purchase a tape or CD of the program and listen when you can. It's a perfect training tool for new staff or as a refresher for veteran staff.

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