title: Designing a competency-based orientation program for the care of cardiac surgical patients.
abstract: Orienting nurses to care for the cardiac surgical patient may require 7 to 14 days with a preceptor. Use of a competency-based orientation (CBO) program such as the one described in this article can minimize orientation time to three to five days while assuring competent practice. CBO uses a variety of learning methods and individualized instruction, focusing on the ability to perform a task or behavior correctly rather than on the ability to demonstrate knowledge. This article describes the basic components of a CBO program. Personal experience with development of such a program for the care of cardiac surgical patients in the immediate postoperative period is described. Advantages and limitations of CBO are described, as are suggestions for future research.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vitello-Cicciu
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000451:nursing*; D003162:Competency-Based Education; D003479:Curriculum; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D011231:Preceptorship