Committed Healthcare Professionals
Improving Outcomes
Values
Integrity
Collaboration
Innovation
NTS colleagues will approach each client with an open-minded and innovative approach to meet the client's needs.
Quality
NTS colleagues will provide high-quality customer service, education development, consultant support, and product delivery to their client base.
A Little History Behind Our Vision
In 2015, Matt Helmerichs and I were asked to assist with improving the new graduate nursing orientation in the emergency department. During that time, the new graduate turnover rate in the first year was high, there was not a formal orientation process, and the new graduate nurses reported not feeling prepared for the role. Neither Matt nor I had traditional educational experiences, but we committed to improving the orientation process.
After collaborating with two ED physicians, we created three simulation experiences for the new graduate nurses that focused on the initial patient assessment and cognitive bias. Our first cohort of 2015 underwent these simulation experiences, and we felt they were successful enough to keep doing it. However, we thought that we needed more help to achieve this goal.
In 2016, Matt and I recruited an orientation task force and began developing a standardized, formal orientation process for the new graduate nurses in the emergency department. The orientation task force designed and developed an evidence-based orientation process that includes six simulation experiences based on real-life scenarios, didactic learning using interactive and innovative strategies, hands-on skill development, formal performance evaluations using a web-based platform, and one-on-one mentoring of the new graduate nurse by a dedicated orientation nurse. The orientation task force has had much success with the development of this process, as well as barriers to success. Each member of the orientation task force committed to professional development as an educator and approached each obstacle with a positive attitude and drive for success.
For the clients of Nurse Training Strategies, our goal is for a collaborative relationship in developing a training program that works best for the client's organization. Each consultant on our team will approach each client with an innovative approach, positive attitude, and drive for success.
Our Leadership
The NTS leadership team is a dedicated group of individuals with a strong drive for success, bedside leadership experience, and skills and knowledge in education development.
What can a Quality Orientation Program Create?
I never intended to stay. I planned to grab some experience and hit the road. Nursing is my second career. I was still young, single, and had no roots in the community. I was among the first nurses trained simply with a designated preceptor. The support I found brought about a more profound commitment to the organization and ignited a passion for me to help others have the same positive experience. From the initial orientation to the years of mentorship, I have remained committed to Emergency Nursing and my home department because of the orientation's positive impact on my career.
A quality orientation cannot be a prescribed number of weeks and a checklist of experiences. It must reflect the nursing process and include an assessment of learning styles, comprehension of knowledge, and the development of clinical judgment and not just critical thinking. Clinical judgment is the nurses' ability to process assessment data and knowledge, prioritize tasks, communicate with other healthcare professionals as well as patients and families, delegate, and document the care provided. The ability to exercise sound clinical judgment reflects the development of professional qualities in the nurse. The development of sound clinical judgment is the goal of a quality orientation process.
