Fantasy orientation

[jjjoy, LPN]

I've been thinking of what my "fantasy orientation" would look like...

First off, a day dedicated to restocking supplies would have been useful to really familiarize myself with where things are. Just looking at the supply closet and what's there doesn't stick in my mind as well as actually having to put things where they belong.

I could've used a good several days of just pulling orders off of charts on a new unit as a means of familiarizing myself with the usual orders, dosages, etc. Then, when I did start passing meds, I wouldn't be quite as slow since the common meds on that floor would already look pretty familiar. And it would be that much less stressful given all of the other new responsibilities, information, etc.

Another couple days perhaps of assisting nurses in contacting physicians... getting the MD on the line for the nurse, waiting for the callback, etc... and familiarizing myself with some of the MDs on the unit as well as the types of issues that led to calls and how they were resolved. Then when I needed to make my first calls to an MD, it wouldn't be a totally new experience.

After familiarizing myself with such things, then I'd be ready to shadow a nurse and start working my way up from a one or two patients to three. Three is a good number for me to start learning how to prioritize several competing patient needs in an acute care setting.

Once I could juggle three patients alright, then I'd want to stick with just three patients or a 1/2-patient load (whichever were greater for that floor) for several weeks. If I had extra time, then I could help out where needed and learn by working with the other nurses and have time to look stuff up that I'm not sure about, etc, instead of just being given a full load just as soon as humanly possible.

Once I have some basic sense of such things, I have a better chance of being able to pull it all together (well, pull it together ENOUGH). Having to try to figure everything out all at the same time added to the usual adjustments of a new work environment... too much for me!

Honestly, I'd be willing to work at a lower pay rate (not too low, I'd hope!) for such an orientation. My fantasies are still fairly practical. It makes sense to me to not get paid full nursing wages if I'm not carrying a full nursing load. It also makes sense that hospitals be willing to pay the extra costs involved in orienting new nurses - so I'm not suggesting free labor or having to pay to get experience.

I suppose this is more of a low level fantasy... the high level fantasy would have such great staffing that one could design their own orientation to fit their needs because there would be more than enough staff available to make it work...

Now off to the real dreamworld as it's time for bed!!!!

[bradleyshanetaylor]

now that is a fantasy! i think nurses wouldnt mind doing it that way, but the hospital, no way cuz imagaine the cost of orientating someone...but we can always dream....