New Features Added to NTS Learning Center - Orientation Tracking Web Application

February 18, 2024

The Orientation Tracking web application, NTS Learning Center, has been enhanced with several new features in its latest version (1.8). These additions aim to streamline the orientation process and provide greater flexibility and functionality. Here's an overview of the five key features introduced:

Documentation of Multiple Roles for a Single Learner: Learners can now have their orientation documented for multiple roles, allowing for a more comprehensive training experience.
New Reporting Feature: A dedicated reporting tab, "Reports," has been added to provide easy access to various data reporting and export functions, including Weekly Updates, Schedules, Review Dashboard, Formal Evaluations, Curriculum, Transcripts, and Export functions.
Learner Achievements: A filter and sort listing of all Learners to quickly determine who is qualified to work in various roles, who has attended or missed certain courses, etc.
Drag-and-Drop Preceptor Assignment Screen: A visually intuitive Preceptor Assignment screen now allows users to easily assign or remove preceptors for learners on orientation. Users can also designate primary preceptors and orientation nurses with simple drag-and-drop functionality.
Learner Action Plan Documentation: Users can now report concerns or challenges faced by learners during their orientation. This feature enables further investigation, documentation, and review of preceptor interviews, evaluations, comments, and outcome data, ultimately facilitating the creation of a tailored action plan to support learners in overcoming obstacles.

Additionally, various bug fixes and enhancements have been implemented to improve overall usability and performance. Notably, a major overhaul has been made to the configuration structure, enhancing flexibility in documenting training activities and progress across multiple roles for a single learner. The updated configuration screen is now better organized, facilitating user updates and previewing changes more efficiently.

These enhancements signify a significant leap in the application's functionality and usability, empowering users to effectively track orientation progress and ensure a smoother onboarding experience for learners.

Previous Versions

Version 1.7

Candidate Interview – documentation of Peer Interview and Job shadow. Information collected in an interview can be converted to create a new learner and tracked across the platform to correlate with tenure and performance.
Customization – Enhancements to the configuration records allow for affiliate-specific settings: Time Zone, Additional Shift Options, Learner Types, Role Names (Charge Nurse, Orientation Nurse, Leadership Titles), and Learning Topics.
Communication Preferences - Learners and Preceptors can edit their Communication Preferences including updating phone numbers, email addresses, and preferred method of contact. These updates ensure the end user controls how they receive communication.
Various minor improvements, including consistency in terms, links, and bug fixes. A major effort was placed at improving existing code, slimming 15,000 lines of code while adding new features.

Version 1.6

Events – Event Type Unavailable to block specific dates on a Learner or Preceptor’s calendar. Resource Shift Evaluations can have the questions displayed limited to a smaller scope. Maintenance Script removes items from the listing of required evaluations.
Users – The user profile extends the standard User for the website to determine the data each User can review and the subscriptions/options that each User wishes to exercise. The information is interconnected between the standard user record and the preceptor record for the Orientation Nurse user.
Data Management – new fields exist on the configuration record for a maximum of days to solicit a response on an evaluation, allowing each Affiliate / Role to guide the maintenance scripts. Additional field manages where images are stored.
Communication –
- New message templates added: Learner Message / Preceptor To-Do Message (links to the To-Do list), Learner Welcome Message, Preceptor Message (links to respective public pages, schedule, and includes Userguide attachment), Leader Meeting Post Message on a template.
- Weekly Update – a message that includes a written introduction by the default user and automated sections for new evaluations, upcoming schedules, recent changes, preceptor comments, preceptor announcements, and important links.
Images / Media – Added image functions to all Editors, allowing images to be uploaded to the site and displayed. Allows media from external sites (such as YouTube) to be played.

Version 1.5

Configuration– Front-end editing of the Configuration record, eliminating the need to provide additional training for backend use.
Communication – Enhancements to ensure deliverability of e-mail and text messages.
Preceptor Assessment – extends Evaluation functions: allows for the bulk review of a Preceptor's performance, review of their comments, strengths, opportunities, and challenges. The Orientation Nurse can then discuss an action plan and submit this documentation to the Preceptor / Leadership.
Clinical Development Grid – extends Curriculum functions, allowing for the documentation of a simulation event in real-time. Comments are time-stamped, which can be matched to footage and used to supplement the debriefing.
Knowledge Check – extends Curriculum functions: allows for collecting Questions and responses from course participants.
Curriculum – The course Survey expanded to 25 questions, and Demographics can vary based on the settings in each template. Various site views are adjusted to consistently display data, and links and listviews are added for extensions.
Competencies – creates a method to document regulatory requirements and skill checklists. The section also extends the Learner and Preceptor pages, creating To-Do Lists for reminders on Evaluations, Competencies, Course Surveys, and Knowledge Checks that still need to be collected.
Various minor improvements, including consistency in terms, links, and bug fixes

Version 1.4

This version of the tool brought many behind-the-scenes enhancements by eliminating unnecessary redirects while processing data, allowing for multiple configuration records on a single tool installation, and allowing various roles to have evaluations collected.

Evaluation Comments– Document discussion of an individual evaluation result among Orientation Nurses
Preceptor Comments– Documents positive, neutral, and negative comments related to a daily evaluation. Shares the comments with Leadership and Positive/Neutral comments with the Preceptor.
Review Dashboard– Compiles performance data related to Preceptors, Learners, Achievements (when Learners reached a specified level on their evaluations), Outcomes, and Courses. All data can be exported to XLS.

Version 1.3

This version brought a Leadership Portal and documentation of Outcomes following a Learning Event online.

Leader Portal:
- Leaders have access to view the default dashboard. The view includes Learners currently on orientation and a condensed list of facts, including anticipated end orientation dates.
- A deeper review of published Learner Data, all Formal Evaluations, and links to the Public Learner / Preceptor pages is included.
- Leader Update meetings have a schedule function with the Events Add Shifts site view and a process to send calendar reminders to Outlook. The Leader meeting documents and updates all leaders and the orientation nurse regarding progress and a transition to independent practice.
Outcomes Function: Analysis of an Affiliate's / Preceptor's / Learner's performance relative to interventions to teach how to provide the represented care.
Export Function: Evaluation, Survey, Events, and Outcomes along with the related Learner/Preceptor/Affiliate data and any other relative fields.