Calm my Nerves Please!!!!!

Got ativan?:chuckle

Seriously though, I am a Nurse Aide and this will be my first orientation at a hospital type facility and i am very nervous. It is government run and i am wondering what i can expect, from orientation, i mean. Am i assigned to a Nurse on that day who will show me around and explain policies to me? I'll only be working per diem, as i am a nursing student full time. Any advice for me?

The DON seems very nice. She did pre-warn me though about some aides who have been there for a while. Some are gossipy apparently. I told the DON that i'm easy going and try my best to please others. She said that is good. But to also, stand up for myself and be firm if i am unsure about something & come to her. Since i'll be per diem, i'm hoping i can avoid all the BS.

Thanks all!!

Our aides get a classroom type orientation from the Education dept. first. Then they go to their home unit and are assigned to work with another aide to learn their job. The charge nurse, and other nurses, will probably offer information too, but that can be confusing. Let the final word be what the charge nurse says, or your manager says. I think you will see quickly that there is a lot of repetition in your tasks and you will learn them quickly. It might help to let the nurses know you are a student and would like to observe or assist with procedures as time allows. As for the gossips, think of this job as a psych clinical rotation. You will have to deal with patients and families soon, so you might "practice" your therapeutic communications now.

Our aides get a classroom type orientation from the Education dept. first. Then they go to their home unit and are assigned to work with another aide to learn their job. The charge nurse, and other nurses, will probably offer information too, but that can be confusing. Let the final word be what the charge nurse says, or your manager says. I think you will see quickly that there is a lot of repetition in your tasks and you will learn them quickly. It might help to let the nurses know you are a student and would like to observe or assist with procedures as time allows. As for the gossips, think of this job as a psych clinical rotation. You will have to deal with patients and families soon, so you might "practice" your therapeutic communications now.

I cannot top the last post.....it said it all well. I wish you luck. BREATHE!!!!!!!!

I cannot top the last post.....it said it all well. I wish you luck. BREATHE!!!!!!!!