title: A patient-centered approach to nurse orientation.
abstract: An orientation pathway was developed using a patient-centered approach. The pathway provides a guide or "road map" for the preceptor and new nurse to care for high-volume patient populations in medical and surgical units. Benefits include application of the nursing process, promotion of critical thinking skills, reduction of reality shock, and improvement in job satisfaction and retention. This article describes the rationale behind the approach and its application to nurse orientation. Steps in the process are described. Staff development educators can use the steps to develop orientation pathways for other practice settings.
authors.affiliation: Northwest Area Health Education Center, Catawba Memorial Hospital, Hickory, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Bumgarner
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Biggerstaff
mesh_terms: D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003479:Curriculum; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009736:Nursing Process; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000193:education; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013850:Thinking