Onboarding plan
Orthopedic Surgeon Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)
A practical, printable plan to take a new orthopedic surgeon from first day to full productivity.
Orthopedic Surgeon onboarding at a glance
Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.
Before day one
- Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
- Verify required credentials: ABOS board certification, State medical license (as applicable)
- Prepare equipment and access: surgical power tools; arthroscopes; implants and hardware; fluoroscopy
- Assign a buddy or preceptor
- Enroll the new hire in Orthopedic Surgeon training so foundations are covered before or during week one
Week one: orient and protect
- Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
- Use sterile technique and time-outs
- Prevent blood clots after surgery
- Follow radiation safety with fluoroscopy
- Watch for compartment syndrome
- Shadow an experienced orthopedic surgeon through a full shift
- Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)
Days 1–30: learn
Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.
- Supervised practice: evaluate a knee injury
- Supervised practice: splint a fracture
- Supervised practice: plan joint replacement recovery
- Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
- 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins
Days 31–60: contribute
Goal: handle a regular workload independently.
- Diagnose musculoskeletal problems: independently
- Repair fractures: independently
- Replace joints: independently
- Reconstruct ligaments and tendons: independently
- Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
- Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
- 60-day check-in
Days 61–90: own
Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.
- Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
- Begin cross-training on a secondary task
- Agree on a credential goal (for example, ABOS board certification)
- Discuss the career path: Orthopedic Resident → Fellow → Orthopedic Surgeon
- 90-day review
Competency checklist
| Skill or task | Trained | Observed | Signed off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluate a Knee Injury | |||
| Splint a Fracture | |||
| Plan Joint Replacement Recovery | |||
| Orthopedic surgery | |||
| Arthroscopy | |||
| Joint replacement | |||
| Fracture fixation |
How to measure onboarding success
- Days until the new hire works without a preceptor
- Competency sign-offs completed on time
- Documentation or charting error rate
- 90-day retention
How Orthopedic Surgeon training maps to this plan
- Introduction to the Orthopedic Surgeon Role
- A Day on the Job
- Essential Orthopedic Surgeon Vocabulary
- Core Duties and Responsibilities
- Common Tasks, Step by Step
- Tools, Equipment and Technology
- Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
- Skills Employers Look For
- Launching Your Orthopedic Surgeon Career
- Final Knowledge Check