Comparison of Associate and Baccalaureate New Graduate Hospital Orientations

Abstract

Background: Respiratory therapy is moving toward baccalaureate degree as the standard for new graduates to enter the profession. Differences have been noted in the curriculums within associate and bachelor’s degree programs. To our knowledge, there is currently no data comparing orientation outcomes in associate degree versus bachelor’s degree graduates. We sought to compare new graduate orientations in hospital settings.

Methods: After approval from IRB, a request to participate in data collection was sent to 181 RT managers Pennsylvania. Each center was asked to complete a survey on their orientation process, attend a call on the study to learn operational definitions and data collection methods for new graduates completing orientation. A data entry log was provided to collect the required information until each individual completed orientation for entry into the database. For comparison between groups we included only the extra hours spent on general care orientation beyond institutional standard as it was anticipated that dedicated orientation time would vary.

Results: Fourteen hospitals agreed to participate. Of those, 8 (57%) returned data on 55 new graduate RTs from May 2019–September 2020. Five individuals terminated before the end of the orientation process were not included in the analysis. Twenty-six RTs earned an associate degree and 24 earned a baccalaureate degree. RTs with an associate degree spent a total 340 extra hours on general care orientation versus those with a bachelor’s degree, who spent a total of 656 extra hours. A combined mean of 216 extra hours was spent on general care orientation. Individuals with associate degrees spent a mean 34 ± 21.44 extra hours. Bachelor’s degree earners spent a mean 51.2 ± 21.33 extra hours orienting to general care. The mean difference between groups was 17.2 h (P = 0.178). Thirty-two individuals included (64%) were new hires from a free-standing children’s hospital in an urban center and likely heavily skews the data as their educational needs may greatly differ from the other institutions.

Conclusions: Differences in extra hours spent in orientation between newly hired associate degree and bachelor’s degree RTs did not differ statistically. However, differences in orientation programs likely contribute and should be unified for future investigations.