F E B R U A R U Y 2 0 1 8 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 9
F
or a new
nurse, starting
out at a facili-
ty can be like trying
to learn how to swim
in the deep end.
There's so much for
them to learn so
quickly that some
things can fall
through the cracks.
To develop a compe-
tent staff, our new
hires self-assess their
performance during their 6-week orientation. We give each new
nurse a 3-ringed binder filled with worksheets for them to assess
and to grade their performance. After every case, new RNs score
themselves on how they fared in each category, from 1 (they need-
ed full assistance), to 3 (they completed the task on their own). A
preceptor also assesses the RN's performance on the same work-
sheet. At the end of every week, for the entirety of their orientation,
I meet with each nurse to go over their cases, their scores and how
they can become proficient in deficient areas.
Anna Bishop, BSN, RN, CNOR
Jackson Hospital
Montgomery, Ala.
anna.bishop@jackson.org
Help New Staff Track Their Progress
• KEEP A JOURNAL Our new nurses and their preceptors assess their performance
after every case so we know in what areas each employee needs help.
For more staff orientation tips, see
"An Internship Program
for New Surgical Nurses"
on page 16.
