Comparison of Task-Layered Clinical Orientation to Traditional Orientation in a RN Residency Program

The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of using a task-layered clinical orientation when compared with the original patient-layering approach.

Use of task-layering to orient new graduate nurses to the clinical world of nursing has been theorized to provide a decrease in cognitive load and allow for more streamlined clinical orientation.

The method of this study was a nonrandomized, comparative design to measure the outcomes of length of orientation, new graduate perceptions about level of confidence/comfort with professional nurse responsibilities/skills, stress, satisfaction, and perceptions about orientation.

Analysis revealed no statistical significance between the 2 groups. However, the task-layered clinical orientation group completed orientation earlier than the traditional patient-layered group.

The task-layered approach to clinical orientation provided as good of outcomes as traditional orientation strategy and may result in cost savings due to decrease in total clinical orientation days.