Authors (including presenting author) :
Sy PY, Lee SW, Cheung KYT, Lau T, Cheng YCA, Mok LC
Affiliation :
Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology (O&T), Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH)
Introduction :
For newly graduated nurses, transitioning from university or nursing school to practice in a clinical specialty remains challenging, stressful and emotionally exhausting. Concerns about new graduate nurses’ ability to cope and deliver safe specialized nursing care have contributed to the development of a multimodal induction program in the department of O&T in PYNEH to promote clinical competence, support professional development and improve retention of new graduate nurses.
Objectives :
The aim of this program is to facilitate new nursing staff to have a smooth and prompt adaptation to their clinical roles.
Through this program, participants would be able to:
1. Enhance core clinical competence in O&T nursing;
2. Adapt to clinical environment through orientation of departmental structure, specific programs and protocols;
3. Learn how to manage emergent O&T scenarios and difficult clinical situations;
4. Tackle difficulties commonly encountered in daily work from the sharing of clinical practical tips and experience
Methodology :
From 2017 to 2019, this program was conducted for 40 newly joined nurses in the department of O&T, PYNEH. This multimodal induction program consisted of 4 components using different modes of delivery: i) Hands-on practice of O&T specialized nursing skills with demonstration, return demonstration and assessment; ii) Tutorial about updated O&T departmental protocols and programs with group discussion in clinical application; iii) Scenario-based situational clinical management of O&T critical conditions with Q&A session; and iv) Experience sharing by NC and other experienced O&T nursing staff. Upon completion of the program, pocket-sized departmental-specific quick reference guides with their QR code for online access in mobile devices were distributed to participants to refer to whenever necessary. Evaluations were conducted to collect participants’ feedback at the end of the program and after they have worked for one year.
Result & Outcome :
In these three years, 100% participants agreed the contents of the program were people-centered which met their learning needs and were practical for use throughout the year. They were all satisfied with the program and enjoyed learning in different modes of delivery. They also concurred that the program could facilitate their adaptation and integration into new working environment, enhance their competence in O&T specialized nursing and boost their confidence in taking up their new roles in delivering safe and effective nursing care, so as to speed up their learning process to work more independently and deal with increasing workload, especially during winter surge. Similar feedback was also received from ward managers.
Overall, low attrition rate of new graduate nurses was shown in the department of O&T (2.5% from 2017 to 2019), compared with the turnover rate of nursing staff in public hospitals (5.7% in 2018).
This O&T multimodal induction program, aligning with the Hospital Authority's core values, can engage and empower fresh graduated nurses by facilitating adaptation in role transition to ‘work as a team’ and developing their competence in delivering ‘professional services and patient-centered care’. Their confidence and job satisfaction are therefore enhanced, resulting in being more ‘committed’ to work.
