Authors (including presenting author) :
Lam MS, Lau SW, Ng KP, Kwok NC, Lo OYJ, Tsoi YK
Affiliation :
Geriatrics and Rehabilitation Service, Department of Medicine, Haven of Hope Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Ward Orientation
Keyword 3: :
Growing Demand
Keyword 4: :
Clinical Safety
Keyword 5: :
Nursing Student
Keyword 6: :
Reduced Workload
Introduction :
With the increasing intake of nursing students for clinical practicum, ward-based orientation has become a growing operational demand on frontline nursing manpower. Conventional nurse-led orientation is time-consuming and may vary in content and delivery depending on staff availability, which resulting in students being unfamiliar with ward environment, workflow and routines, creating potential latent clinical risks during early clinical exposure. In alignment with the Hospital Authority’s Strategic Plan on Smart Hospitals, Ward 1B of Haven of Hope Hospital introduced a technology-enabled orientation model entitled Gladness Orientation with Tim-Tim (GOT). The programme redesigns the traditional orientation workflow by integrating a service robot with animated digital content to provide a self-directed and consistent orientation experience. By shifting orientation delivery from a manpower-intensive process to a technology-supported model, GOT aims to manage growing training demand, optimise nursing workforce deployment and enhance clinical safety through improved orientation consistency.
Objectives :
1. To redesign the ward orientation workflow using technology to address the increasing intake of nursing students. 2. To improve efficiency and consistency of orientation delivery while minimising nursing manpower involvement. 3. To optimise nursing workforce deployment by enabling self-directed orientation without compromising learning completeness. 4. To enhance clinical safety by standardising essential orientation content, reducing variation and improving students’ preparedness for clinical practice.
Methodology :
Essential orientation topics were identified through consensus among ward nurses to ensure relevance and completeness, with particular attention to ward workflow and safety-related information. Animated educational modules covering ward environment, routines and workflow were developed. A service robot was programmed with a navigation route to autonomously deliver location-based orientation content at designated ward locations, forming a structured and self-directed orientation workflow for students. Staff provided minimal facilitation and remained available for clarification when required.
Result & Outcome :
The programme was implemented for 171 nursing students in 49 groups over a 13-month period. Staff and student satisfaction rates reached 100% and 95% respectively. Nurse-led orientation time was reduced by a total of 49 hours, allowing redeployment of nursing manpower to direct patient care. Improved consistency in orientation delivery was observed, with students demonstrating better familiarity with ward workflow and routines, supporting safer clinical practice during early placement. The project demonstrated the feasibility of a technology-enabled orientation model to effectively manage increasing service demand while enhancing operational efficiency.
