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The orientation process assists the graduate nurse (GN) to make the transition from nursing student to professional nurse. The collegial clinical model is an orientation strategy that was designed, developed, and implemented to assist GNs with this transition. GNs are familiar with the composition of a clinical group as this is the manner in which the hospital experiences are designed in nursing school. With the nurse educator effectively functioning as a clinical instructor during 3 days of the clinical orientation, the GNs ease into the transition to the unit on which they will be working. Four GNs hired to work on the postpartum unit during June 2006 participated in the pilot test of the collegial clinical model. Quotations from the reflective journal exercise that the GNs completed clearly show the benefit of this type of orientation. Preorientation and postorientation meetings with preceptors also highlight the benefits of this model as an orientation strategy.

The protection that breast-feeding affords both mother and infant against acute and chronic illness is well documented. The grassroots, public health, and governmental supports for breast-feeding have influenced changes in maternal and newborn care. History indicates that the additional influence has come in the form of governmental workshops and initiatives, professional organizations, as well as The Joint Commission. This includes the influence that the Baby-Friendly® Hospital Initiative and the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding have had on infant care throughout the years. The requirements that hospitals must follow to implement all, or some, of the Ten Steps lead to change in care that not only increases breast-feeding rates but also leads to health improvements. This article reviews how an upward trend in the adoption of Baby-Friendly practices to support breast-feeding impacts infant care.

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