Favorable Outcomes: Moving Nursing Orientation to a Hybrid Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Pandemic Response
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• Traditional in-person nursing orientation programs face challenges during public health crises.
• The COVID-19 pandemic required rapid adaptation of healthcare training methodologies.
• Maintaining comprehensive onboarding for new nurses is critical for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the conversion of a traditional in-person general nursing orientation to a hybrid model.
• To evaluate the feasibility and success of a hybrid orientation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To provide a model for future nursing onboarding in evolving healthcare environments.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a hybrid orientation program combining online modules and modified in-person sessions.
• Ensured all COVID-19 safety precautions were integrated into the modified in-person components.
• Onboarded a cohort of 125 new nurses between April and September 2020.

Main Results:

• Successfully onboarded 125 new nurses using the hybrid orientation model.
• Maintained all necessary COVID-19 safety precautions throughout the program.
• Demonstrated the viability of a hybrid approach for nursing orientation.

Conclusions:

• Hybrid nursing orientation programs are effective for onboarding new nurses during pandemics.
• Adaptable and innovative approaches are essential for nursing professional development.
• This model offers a sustainable solution for nurse onboarding amidst ongoing global health challenges.