Ensuring appropriate training and ongoing competency is crucial in any profession. Nursing orientation is often the first exposure that the newly hired nurses have to the professional practices and technologic tools of a health care organization. Such orientation has traditionally been delivered using a didactic teaching model, which included presentations related to such topics as fire safety, diabetes management, blood administration, and nursing informatics. The use of elearning as a component of nursing orientation sets the stage for a career that includes lifelong learning opportunities using the computer.
This presentation describes how one health care facility uses a blended learning approach combining online and face-to-face education for training and orientation of new staff and for ensuring ongoing competence of experienced staff. Completion of eLearning modules containing factual information, links to policies, and problem-solving scenarios has become the prerequisite for participation in the simulation lab where staff nurses engage in hands-on practice with computerized mannequins in a controlled environment prior to encountering real-life patients. Factors for success as well as challenges associated with this approach will be described.
Biography
Cathy Johnson is a Project Manager in Nursing Informatics at the University Health Network. In this corporate nursing role, Cathy manages the development of the Intranet and Internet sites for Nursing and Allied Health as well as the Nursing Channel. Cathy has provided leadership and expertise with the nursing elearning initiative at UHN.
Heather Pollex is a Nursing Education Coordinator at the University Health Network. In this corporate role, she acts as a resource and consultant in nursing education and professional development. She has a Doctorate in Education from OISE/University of Toronto and holds a clinical faculty appointment in the School of Nursing at McMaster University. Her areas of interest are in workplace learning, leadership development, performance management, and program planning & evaluation.
