Introduction :
Between Aug and Oct 2021, total of 31 New Graduate Registered Nurses (NGRNs) joined the Medicine & Geriatrics Department (M&G). They are well-trained in theory with limited clinical exposure and practice skills to provide quality and safety of patient care. New nurses needed support and training to speed their transition from new graduates to qualified practitioners and improve their retention (Asber, 2019). In this connection, the “Innovative Functional Training Program” was conducted for NGRNs in August 2021 to enhance their competence in functional basic nursing care and practice skills that would be required in caring of patient with acute medical condition.
Objectives :
(1) Consolidate the basic nursing care and practice skills to provide safe and quality patient care; (2) Enhance staff the decision-making and problem-solving skills; (3) Enhance staff the clinical sense in alertness of clinical risks; (4) Facilitate NGRNs to adopt the nursing role effectively and to improve staff’s engagement / retention rate.
Methodology :
Program Training Team of 3 Clinical Preceptors (CPs) and Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) from the M&G Department was formed to design and coordinate the program which was led by Department of Operation Managers of M&G and Intensive Care Unit. Three identical rounds of program were organized and the duty roster was designed for NGRNs after reporting duty. A 4-Week structure program covered 135 training items from basic nursing care and skills practice, handling of clinical emergency equipment, bedside procedures, medication administration and clinical handover. CPs will act as mentor to work and coach closely with the NGRNs. Three groups of 5~6 NGRNs per round are formed under coaching of CPs respectively and allocated to acute medical wards during the program.
Result & Outcome :
Total 64 post-programme questionnaire with closed ended questions were completed by 14 M&G Ward Managers, 31 Participants and Clinical Training Team comprising of 19 APNs. 10 of 31 participants were interviewed by the Program Coordinator with open-ended questions. The results revealed that 94% of respondents agreed the program has enhanced the knowledge and skills in basic nursing care and the competency in (1) handing of bedside procedures, (2) alertness of clinical risks and adoption of nurse’s role. Also, the interviewees agreed the program contents are comprehensive and fruitful. They suggested the ratio between CPs and NGRNs is 1:3-4.
The newly established Innovative Functional Training Program has shown trilateral Win-Win results: To nurses, the knowledge and skills in basic nursing care has been enhanced to facilitate their smooth transition from theory to clinical practice. To hospitals, the NGRNs adopt the nurse’s role effectively in which may promote not only the staff’s engagement but also the retention rate. To patients, the NGRNs alertness of clinical risks and decision-making skills has been enhanced. The patients may receive quality and safe nursing care during hospitalization.
Reference:
Xu, F., Ma, L., Wang, Y., Yu, J., Li, D., Zhou, G., Xu, Y., Zhang, H., & Cao, Y. (2021).
Effects of an Innovative Training Program for New Graduate Registered Nurses: A Comparison Study. SAGE Open, 11(1), 1-7
