Protocollo di inserimento per infermieri neoassunti in cardiologia e cardiochirurgia pediatrica e congenita: studio qualitativo di valutazione pre–post implementazione

Beatrice Cavezzi; Chiara Gatti; Alessia Galli; Sara Giannini; Gilda Pelusi

doi:10.54103/dn/28663

Authors

Beatrice Cavezzi Benvenuto e Rocco Hospital, Osimo (Ancona), Italy https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1358-1027
Chiara Gatti Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria delle Marche, Ancona, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2567-6301
Alessia Galli Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria delle Marche, Ancona, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0249-4473
Sara Giannini AUSL Romagna, Ceccarini Hospital, Riccione (Rimini), Italy https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4126-5266
Gilda Pelusi Polytechnic University of Marche, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Ancona, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54103/dn/28663

Keywords:

Newly hired registered nurses., Cardiac care nursing, Qualitative research, Congenital heart disease, Education

Abstract

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Structured onboarding programs for newly hired nurses are associated with improved work integration and professional preparedness. However, evidence regarding onboarding in pediatric and adult congenital cardiology and cardiac surgery settings remains limited. In a highly specialised pediatric and congenital cardiology/cardiac surgery and pediatric intensive care setting in Italy, a new onboarding protocol was developed to address this gap.
AIM: To explore the acceptability, perceived usefulness and functionality of a newly developed onboarding protocol for newly hired and/or newly assigned nurses.
METHODS: Four accredited educational meetings with a selected sample of nurses were conducted to co-design the onboarding protocol. A qualitative phenomenological evaluation was then carried out using semi-structured interviews before and after implementation. Data were analysed according to Colaizzi’s method and findings were validated through member checking.
RESULTS: Participants reported that the previous protocol was useful as an initial reference but insufficiently detailed and poorly aligned with ward complexity; competency assessment was perceived as unclear and not easily measurable. The new protocol was described as more context-specific and better organised, with a weekly progression of learning activities and a revised assessment grid perceived as clearer and more supportive. The main remaining limitation concerned organisational time allocated for onboarding rather than the protocol itself; extended post-onboarding support (e.g., “protected shifts”) and enhanced theory–practice training were suggested or implemented.
CONCLUSIONS: The onboarding protocol was perceived as acceptable and useful in supporting integration of newly hired nurses in a highly specialised setting. Further studies should incorporate additional outcomes and follow-up to evaluate its impact on competence development and retention.

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