Authors (including presenting author) :
Kam MY(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals, Hong Kong
Introduction :
An increasing trend in shortage of staff and turnover rate have drawn attention to our hospital to the recruitment and retention of New Graduates (NGs). Shortage staffing not only affect the quality of delivered care but patient safety. Research indicates faculty perceive pandemic graduates as being less prepare for professional practice (Power et al., 2021). Longer orientations may improve new nurse transition, satisfaction, and retention, and reducing turnover can result in considerable cost savings for healthcare facilities (Rush et al., 2019). Due to ongoing pandemic, the clinical practicum of NGs had been reduced and even suspended. In addition, to support NGs with very limited clinical exposure and skills practicing to have a smooth transition from theory into practice and develop skills competency, the Department of Medicine and Geriatrics designed and conducted a 4-week Fundamental Onboard Training Program to promote their clinical competence so as to perform safe quality care and lower attrition rate.
Objectives :
(1) To consolidate the knowledge and skills on basic nursing care of NGs to provide safe quality patient care; (2) To facilitate NGs to adopt the nursing role effectively resulting in staff empowerment and staff retaining.
Methodology :
A 4-week program of non-clinical duty had been arranged to NGs. Small group of 5-6 NGs formed under clinical coaching by experienced Clinical Preceptors respectively in acute care setting. A structure program comprising of practicing basic bedside patient care, skills practice of bedside procedures, introducing essential medical equipment, skills assessment of 13 common nursing assessments that includes medication administration and blood transfusion etc. was prepared.
Result & Outcome :
Total 15 post-programme questionnaires comprising of 13 questions using a 6-Likert scale completed by participants were collected. The post-programme questionnaire revealed that (1) 87% of participants agreed the content is appropriate and enhance their knowledge and skills in basic bedside care and bedside procedures, (2) 53% of participants disagreed the program duration is appropriate, and (3) 47 % of participants disagreed the practicum time is adequate. The clinical sense in monitoring patient with pressure injury and physical restrain should be further enhanced.
Fundamental Onboard Training Program provides an opportunity for NGs to apply knowledge and skills to actual patient care. The role model of Preceptors may not only help to develop NGs clinical reasoning and the skills in decision making through close clinical coaching, but also develops their abilities and professional confidence to promote their quality safe holistic care. Besides, the program may help the NGs to adopt the nurse’s role effectively and to promote the staff’s empowerment as well as the retention rate.
Reference:
Powers, K., Pate, K. & Pagel, J. (2022). Faculty Perceptions of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on New Graduate Nurses’ Transition to Practice: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Professional Nursing, 43, 33-41.
