Emerging practices in onboarding programs for PAs: Program content

JAAPA. 2020 Sep;33(9):38-42. doi: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000694968.61482.e6.

Abstract

Objective: Healthcare organizations are interested in creating onboarding programs to assist new PA and NP employees as they transition to practice settings. There is a need for information on what the ideal content and topic areas are for clinics to include in their onboarding programs.

Methods: In 2018, we interviewed 13 administrators of onboarding programs. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for themes by a team of researchers, with feedback from interviewees.

Results: Eight content areas were identified and described in this paper: culture and values; goals and strategies; task proficiency; rules and policies; structure; working relationships; wellness; and navigation and politics.

Conclusions: These common content areas may provide a starting point for organizations designing onboarding programs for their unique organizations.

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Competence
  • Education, Continuing / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mentoring / methods*
  • Nurse Practitioners / education*
  • Patient Care*
  • Physician Assistants / education*
  • Program Evaluation*
  • Workforce
  • Workplace*