title: Onboarding advanced practice nurses: development of an orientation program in a cardiac center.
abstract: The advanced practice nurse (APN) is critical to continuity of patient care, particularly in an innovative and research-intensive environment. The intensity of the environment, steep learning curve, and lack of a structured orientation can lead to difficulties in role assimilation and feelings of disconnectedness. This led the authors to undertake an improvement project to develop an onboarding program for APNs and develop strategies to orient them to their role. The authors describe the program and discuss how it was perceived by the APNs. Program evaluation and suggestions for future nursing research are identified.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goldschmidt
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rust
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torowicz
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kolb
mesh_terms: D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital; D003479:Curriculum; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000451:nursing; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D015143:Philadelphia; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires