Agency nurse doing the orientation?

[ceecel.dee, MSN, RN]

OK, I'm pretty new to the Agency Nursing thing, but on the second day of a 2 day gig at this hospital, I was asked to orient an CNA on her first day! Is this done? What in the world would I know about their CNA routines and duties? The poor girl had never taken report before, or worked as a NA (CNA is actually inaccurate, because she has not taken the class to become certified) before.

At my former job in Staff Development, I did work with the CNA's, but this hospital certainly didn't know that. I'm just surprised that they would want an outsider to begin the indoctrination of how it goes at their place. Is this weird?

[cannoli]

As an agency RN, I was orienting another agency RN who was replacing me mid-shift. Even though I used to be an employee at that hospital and on that floor, I thought it was totally inappropriate for me, as an agency person, to be orienting another agency person. I think they just don't want to be bothered and don't want any accountability, responsibility, etc. where agency is concerned if they can help it.

[suzanne4, RN]

I have actually oriented new hospital staff at almost every facility that I have ever worked at. And that included any of the specialty units. I was even trained for all of my different specialties as an agency nurse, not as a staff nurse because they felt confident in my abilities and they knew that I would be there when I said I would. I have oriented nurses that months from then would be able to take over the position that the hospital was being me the extra money for and I was only too happy. This meant that they were quite happy with the way that I was doing my job and I always got asked back again. And when the time would arise that they were short I was usually the first one requested back.

I have worked agency for most of my career after the first year as I have always preferred picking my own hours, etc. But I have been quite flexible most of the time, if there was a true need. Member of a heart team at multiple facilites, etc. The surgeons always felt quite comfortable with me and they knew that I could handle anything that came up. It just takes using your brains and putting in the initiative that you are open for learning new things. That is one reason that I tell any of the nurse externs to be flexible and float when possible. You will always learn something new.....

So it definitely works two ways............................ :balloons: