Onboarding and Orientation Programs for Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) in Metropolitan Academic Medical Center Emergency Departments.

Upon employment, the advanced practice provider (APP) undergoes an onboarding and orientation process, increasing employee satisfaction and retention. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the existence and the structure of formal onboarding and orientation practices of APPs working in academic medical center (AMC) EDs across metropolitan United States cities. From September 2021 to November 2021, APP leaders (n = 5) participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic and content analysis was used and revealed that four of the five Midwestern AMC EDs do not have formal onboarding and orientation programs for newly hired employees. Study participants working in EDs identified an absence of formal orientation and onboarding. However, the informal current onboarding and orientation processes used are customized to the individual employee enrolled in a fellowship. Results of this study may create formalized onboarding and orientation structures in AMC EDs that will benefit APPs.