Orienting new nurses to a fast-paced environment
Trisha Stravin, RN, CNS

As a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) on Children’s Hospital Boston’s inpatient cardiac unit, my role is to ensure that every member of the unit’s nursing staff has the support and clinical expertise to deliver exceptional, family-centered care. Since getting used to an acute, fast-paced environment can be overwhelming for new nurses, we’ve developed a successful preceptor program to support new nurses in their transition to autonomous members of the team.

The preceptor program creates one-on-one relationships between new nurses and experienced, highly motivated preceptors trained in adult learning principles, conflict resolution and mentorship techniques. Over the course of six weeks, preceptors pay close attention to new nurses’ strengths and weaknesses, documenting concrete expectations of progress, discussing successes and creating an action plan to overcome challenges. Additionally, each new nurse and preceptor meets regularly with me to discuss his or her goals and progress. By the end of the six-week program, new nurses have received concrete, constructive feedback and have created action plans for achieving both short- and long-term professional goals.