orient /ôr″ē·ənt/ [L, oriens, rising sun] , 1. to make someone aware of new surroundings, including people and their roles; the layout of a facility; and its routines, rules, and services. New patients are oriented to a hospital, as are new staff to a hospital unit. 2. to help a person become aware of a situation or simply of reality, such as when a patient recovers from anesthesia. −oriented, adj., −orientation, n.
