how to float to other station effectively?

[payang0722]

Hello everyone,

I'm still working on-call in a SNF, & they called me to work the next 3 days to take care of 23 residents that I haven't seen nor met before. And honestly, I'm scared. I'm a pretty brand new nurse and I need some advice to how I will handle this...

Thanks in advance.

[brownbook]

Ask if on the first day you can come into work 1 hour prior to your shift start time in order to familiarize yourself with the unit, patients, paperwork, routine, etc. Stress to them how unfamiliar you are with these residents and you don't feel comfortable giving patient care to patients you don't know.

Ideally they would pay you for this one hour orientation. For your own mental health's sake even if they won't pay ask if there is any problem if you come in on your own. Even that is a gray area, some institution, labor laws, policies, etc., do not allow employees to be "working" without pay.