Nursing Orientation

Nursing Orientation follows General Hospital Orientation and is intended to orient new nurses to processes and systems at Providence through the use of interactive learning activities and patient simulation. During this time, each nurse completes a variety of assessments to determine individual learning needs.  The amount of time spent in training the first week is dependent on the learning needs of the nurse. Each employee is assigned additional interactive learning modules which are accessed through Providence Learning Network.  New nurses will have the opportunity to spend time with nursing leadership during this week.

Nursing Orientation includes:

Patient and Employee Safety

Knowledge and Skill Assessment
Individual Learning Plans
Back Safety
FIT Testing

Clinical Simulations Lab

Clinical Equipment
Patient Scenarios
IV Therapy

Computer Documentation

Electronic Medical Record
Bedside Medication Verification

Most of nursing orientation the first week is in the clinical simulations lab which has patient rooms that resemble the hospital rooms including beds, bath basins, personal cards and belongings.  Four rooms have a patient simulator that is anatomically correct with veins and functioning biorhythms like a heart beat and a pulse.  The patient has a name, arm band, medical chart and a history of problems.  Each room has a heart monitor and clinical equipment like IV pumps or ventilator that is fully operational and alarm when there is a problem. The patient simulators can cough, vomit and mimic other bodily functions as well as speak to the employee.

Instructors have developed pre-programmed scenarios that respond to the employee’s actions.  The employee can work alone or with a group of employees during the simulation which review many processes at Providence. Through the simulated experiences we are able to mimic real life experiences so the staff can learn the correct procedures and how to problem solve in certain situations. When the employee performs a task like giving a medication the patient’s biorhythms will change positively or negatively depending if the action was correct. In addition to the patient assessment, the employee can look at past 12 lead EKGs, x-rays or lab values to determine what needs to be done.

Integrated into the training are other principles like collaborative practice and response to diversity.  The employee learns how to work with the health care team to meet the patient’s special needs.  The instructor provides a time for reflection and debriefing to help the employee learn through the process.

Comments from past participants:

"Orientation was not bogged down by dry, dull or unnecessary info/facts"
"It was a wonderful, friendly learning environment!"
"I enjoyed the instructors and their methods of teaching!"