Vicky Bournival, Director of Organizational Development at St. Ann's Community in Rochester, New York, had a unique challenge on her hands. As a senior care organization with four campuses, St. Ann's employs thousands of people working around the clock across three shifts. For Vicky, who oversees HR operations, organizational culture, and onboarding, the question wasn't just how to orient new employees. She needed a flexible employee onboarding solution to create a consistent, welcoming experience for new hires who might never set foot on the same campus. 

When In-Person Onboarding Becomes a Barrier 

Before implementing Advantage HR Engage^TM, St. Ann's relied on a traditional in-person orientation. But for a healthcare organization that never sleeps, this approach created more problems than it solved. Night-shift employees struggled to attend daytime sessions, and new hires who worked outside of the main campus felt disconnected before they even started. What should have been a warm welcome felt more like a hurdle. 

Staffing limitations only compounded the issue. With limited resources to coordinate and deliver consistent orientation across campuses and shifts, the onboarding experience became inconsistent and inefficient. For an organization where culture and connection are paramount, the orientation process was falling short of St. Ann's values. 

A Troubled Start 

St. Ann's first attempt at an online employee orientation involved moving PowerPoint presentations into their HRIS system. Unfortunately, the platform was difficult to access and not mobile-friendly, a critical flaw for employees who didn't always have reliable computer access. The content itself was inconsistent and unengaging, and the initiative ultimately didn't deliver the results St. Ann's needed. 

When a coworker introduced Vicky to Advantage HR Engage^TM, she immediately saw the potential. 

“A coworker found Advantage at the SHRM conference and showed it to me and I was like, this is what I've been looking for! This is what we need!” 

The next step was securing buy-in from leadership. In-person orientation had long been the industry norm in senior care, and leadership questioned whether a virtual onboarding platform could be effective, especially after the first attempt hadn't succeeded. Vicky took a strategic approach, emphasizing how a hybrid orientation would strengthen connection and provide new employees with ongoing access to resources that would support their long-term success. She also came with numbers that were hard to ignore: 

• Every lost employee cost St. Ann’s $13,000 in lost productivity 
• Under their current onboarding system, annual turnover reached 350 employees, equating to $4.5 million in turnover costs 
• Even a 1% reduction in turnover saves approximately $45,000 

With these numbers, Vicky demonstrated how Advantage HR Engage^TM orientation would more than pay for itself over time, and the buy-in she needed followed shortly.  

A Hybrid Model, Built for Everyone 

One of the most innovative aspects of St. Ann's new onboarding approach is their use of a hybrid model, which recognizes that different roles have different needs. The core online employee orientation, which covers values, policies, safety, compliance, and even dementia training, is now delivered fully online. This flexibility means that night-shift workers can complete their orientation at 2 a.m. if that's what works for their schedule, while employees across all four campuses receive the same high-quality, consistent experience. 

Clinical staff follow a hybrid healthcare employee onboarding model that blends the convenience of online orientation with necessary hands-on training. This ensures that practical skills requiring in-person instruction aren't compromised, while foundational knowledge and cultural understanding can be built flexibly through the platform. 

The Game, Changed 

The early results have been positive. Feedback from both testers and leadership confirmed that the new approach was working, highlighting the value of flexibility and the ability to complete orientation at one's own pace. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, users find the experience accessible and welcoming. 

Most importantly for a culture-focused organization like St. Ann's, employees still arrive with a strong cultural understanding. Culture hasn't been sacrificed in the move to digital; it's remained front and center. 

For Vicky, Advantage HR EngageTM has created exactly what St. Ann's needed: a consistent and engaging onboarding experience that improves accessibility without sacrificing the culture that makes their organization special. The online platform serves as an ongoing resource, supporting employees well beyond day one. 

“People really are enjoying not having to sit through this old-school, in-person orientation for a day or two. People like being able to do it on their own time. People still feel like when they come on day one, that they have a strong perception and understanding of our organizational culture. That was something that was important to me that I didn't want to miss." 

What’s Next? 

St. Ann's story demonstrates what's possible when healthcare organizations rethink traditional onboarding methods. For organizations that operate across multiple shifts and locations, or who face similar staffing and accessibility challenges, a culture-first orientation approach isn't just possible; it's essential. The right online onboarding orientation can transform how you welcome new employees while delivering measurable ROI through improved retention and engagement. 

Ready to create a culture-first orientation that works for your 24/7 organization? Request a live tour of Advantage HR Engage^TM today and see how it can transform your onboarding experience. 

Related Stories: 

• How Online Orientation Impacts Employee Retention: Human Resources Team Takes Advantage of Digital Experience Platform
• Discover the Top 5 Advantages of Advantage HR Engage: The Digital Orientation at the Center of Your Onboarding Strategies 
• How Digital Orientation Platforms Are Revolutionizing the First 90 Days: Modern Online Orientation Redefines the New Hire Experience