Orientation based on nursing diagnoses. Old concepts in today's practice

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Perioperative Nursing
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Traditional operating room (OR) orientation programs often lack integration with core nursing principles.
• Accrediting bodies mandate specific content, but practical application through a nursing framework is often missing.
• A structured nursing process approach can enhance the effectiveness of OR orientation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To restructure an operating room orientation program using Dr. Gordon's Eleven Functional Health Patterns.
• To emphasize nursing diagnoses, theory, and clinical competencies within the perioperative nursing curriculum.
• To evaluate the impact of this nursing framework-based orientation on staff retention and new nurse competency.

Main Methods:

• The OR orientation program was redesigned to align with Dr. Gordon's Eleven Functional Health Patterns.
• The curriculum was enhanced to focus on nursing diagnoses, theoretical underpinnings, and essential clinical competencies.
• Program outcomes were assessed over two years, focusing on staff turnover, recruitment success, and new nurse proficiency.

Main Results:

• Significant decrease in staff turnover, with only one nurse leaving out of 26 full-time equivalents in 18 months.
• Increased success in recruiting qualified nurses for operating room positions.
• New nurses demonstrated comfort with basic perioperative nursing practice within six months of orientation.
• Experienced nurses not part of the new program requested orientation content, indicating perceived value.

Conclusions:

• Structuring OR orientation within a recognized nursing framework, such as Functional Health Patterns, improves program effectiveness.
• This integrated approach enhances perioperative nursing practice consistency with hospital-wide standards and accreditation requirements.
• The revised orientation positively impacts staff retention, recruitment, and the development of competent perioperative nurses.