Orientation
When you join Bronson, You will receive an organization-wide, nursing core orientation and job or unit-specific orientation. Organization–wide orientation focuses on Bronson’s Plan for Excellence and culture.

• New Hire Orientation provides an overview of the policies, benefits and systems that apply to all employees.
• Nursing Core Orientation includes an individualized assessment of current performance levels and provides nursing specific information that applies to all clinical units. Based on your Performance Based Development System assessment of critical thinking, interpersonal and technical skills, an orientation pathway is designed to guide experiential, technologic and classroom learning.

Clinical orientation ranges from six weeks to several months.

Ongoing Clinical Support
Bronson nurses receive widespread clinical support from a variety of sources. Initially, a unit-based nurse manager, clinical instructor and unit-based preceptors monitor orientation to your unit. Experienced nurse co-workers and an extensive centralized nursing education department provide ongoing support. For complex patient needs, clinical nurse specialists are also available for consultation. Many educational offerings are presented at Bronson to assist nurses in maintaining skills and knowledge. Unlimited continuing education credits are also available in an on-line format through CE Direct. Nurses also have 24-hour bedside access to a comprehensive medical library, with evidence based resources and current standards.

Technology
Technology is an integral part of nursing at Bronson, and we continue to seek out the latest advancements to assist nurses at the bedside, help increase efficiency, and allow more time with patients. Computerized documentation applications include HED, Allscripts ED, General Electric, Portal and IntelliDOT. There is also a clinical portal - a database which contains information from several applications that allows nurses to customize and organize his or her patient team and each patient's information, such as lab results, narrative reports and intake/output. Bronson also has an intranet for internal communication and education, as well as GroupWise e-mail accounts.

Continuing Education & Professional Certification
Bronson offers tuition assistance for academic classes and reimbursement for professional certifications. Nursing continuing education credits are also offered throughout the year through Bronson's many in-services and conferences.

New Graduates
Bronson has a long history of developing new nurse graduates. Program availability is based on organizational needs.

Graduate Nurse (GN) Program
If a new graduate is not licensed, he or she is eligible to participate in the Graduate Nurse Program. This program supports a novice nurse’s transition from graduation to licensure and beyond through designated classroom presentations, clinical experiences, and support/coaching for NCLEX success. Unit specific orientation is based on need and
follows the GN program.

Nurse Intern Program
This program involves extended orientation including theory, technical skills, clinical experience and critical thinking experience that facilitate successful performance in critical care, medical/surgical or perioperative environments. Orientation occurs on all related units, and upon completion of the program, the Nurse Intern bids on available positions within the specialty area.

A new graduate who is licensed may participate in the Nurse Intern program or be hired into a unit specific position.

Nurse Externs
Nurse Externs are nursing students in their final semesters of nursing school. They work with a registered nurse preceptor and act as a nurse-extender, learning the performance expectations of an entry-level staff nurse while offering helping hands for patient care. Nurse Extern seminars support clinical learning as well as professional development.

Nurse Extern qualifications include:

• Student nurse in good standing
• Completion of a pharmacology course or equivalent
• Clinical experience in the area of placement

Nurse extern benefits include:

• Competitive salary while working to build nursing competence
• Flexible scheduling
• Confidence and competence building
• Coaching for success
• Career mobility on the pathway to a professional nurse position

Program availability is based on organizational needs.