Our nominee is an example of a person who truly looks to ensure that the orientees that are new to her practice area feel comfortable in the transition to their new roles. She does this by fostering an environment where learners can flourish. She has the ability to empathize with learners, understanding their diverse backgrounds and challenges as they navigate the transition from a novice nurse to an expert nurse. Kristen employs personalized approaches to teaching that cater to individual learning styles. Realizing that not all learners are the same, she meets with them prior to orientation and creates a plan that fits their learning style. In addition, she meets with them regularly to target areas where they are struggling, and she uses innovative methods such as simulation in our simulation lab to build confidence and ability. Part of the process is also creating an environment that encourages open communication, ensuring learners feel heard and supported.

Next, as the learner navigates the nuances of the clinical area (the CVICU; cardiovascular intensive care unit), she provides constructive feedback that motivates learners to improve and succeed. Lastly, she celebrates individual achievements by fostering a sense of accomplishment and growth as the orienting nurse is able to successfully complete the orientation and care for some of our acutely ill patients and continue to expand their knowledge base week to week. Her ability to connect with the nurses has allowed for strong retention rates and nurses who provide exceptional care. Kristen is very instrumental in helping the learner bridge theoretical concepts to clinical practice, which promotes critical thinking and clinical judgment. She developed a curriculum and orientation program that allowed the nurse to learn theory in a classroom/clinical setting prior to applying it in practice. She tailored the orientation to match the level of skills of the learner. For example, she assessed the skills of a medical/surgical nurse transitioning to her unit to ensure he would be successful. First, she administered a competency assessment exam. Based on how he “scored,” she developed an orientation plan that consisted of specific lectures, practice in the simulation lab, and orientation on a step-down unit as pre-work to working in the CVICU. At the time of the completion of this part of the orientation, she re-administered the competency assessment to measure the effectiveness of the plan. Her ability to do this individually for the orientees she is responsible for on her unit has been amazing and has resulted in expertly prepared nurses, demonstrated by positive patient outcomes.