title: Application of critical pathways in the maternity nursing orientation process.
abstract: The creation of an individualized, systematic, and comprehensive clinical orientation is essential for the newly hired nurse, the nurse preceptor, and nursing managers. The development, implementation, and use of "orientation pathways" provides a framework that will produce an individualized orientation based on clinical experience, focus on specific criteria for patient care and unit duties, ensure completion of skill competency criteria within a specified time frame, and assist with identification of problems and/or weaknesses the nurse orientee may be experiencing.
authors.affiliation: Somerset Medical Center, Somerville, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ferraro
mesh_terms: D019091:Critical Pathways; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009515:New Jersey; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010557:Personnel Administration, Hospital / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation