Comprehensive Onboarding and Orientation to Support Newly Hired Faculty in a Nursing Program

Nursing programs are challenged with retaining nurse faculty due to many complex factors, one being the problem of suboptimal transition to the role.

The purpose of this project was to assess the impact of an onboarding and orientation program, the Teaching Excellence Program (TEP), on the transition of newly hired nurse faculty.

Program assessment data, including quantitative and qualitative measures of 14 participants' needs and experiences, were collected over one academic year.

A Wilcoxon signed-rank test found no discernible difference between the preprogram and postprogram survey responses. Qualitatively, participants reported positive experiences with the TEP, highlighting the value of being in a cohort that created a sense of belonging within the college and university.

The inclusion of programming such as the TEP can be used as a recruitment and retention tool, especially as we navigate faculty shortages and develop clinicians as faculty members.