New RN job... NO orientation!!!

Nurses New Nurse

Published

Good evening! I am starting a new RN job in an urgent care next week. I was informed tonight that I will not be getting ANY orientation. NADA. :eek: Is this typical with urgent care centers?? I know in the hospital, you get a few weeks. I was not expecting that as I know it's not as demanding or crazy as a hospital, but ggggeeeezzzzz, I thought I would get something.... NOPE.

Is this typical? What would you do???

PS- I have gone in on my own a few times to get some training under my belt. I have gone in after I got off from my other job, BUT was under the assumption (as was told) that I would get some official orientation, training when I actually started.... no.... oh boy. :o

The urgent care practice itself may be an okay place to work, but having you come in for unpaid "orientation" shows that the manager, at least, is willing to engage in less than ethical ways to save a buck. Besides being unethical, this practice is illegal.

Urgent care centers fall under JCAHO accreditation. That means the office should have an orientation checklist and other documentation to show that their employees have received proper training.

Maybe you can mention this in a non-threatening tone (you let the information do the intimidating, not your demeanor). "But won't the practice get in trouble if JCHAO asks to see documentation of my orientation and there isn't any?" Sound like you're looking out for the clinic as well as yourself.

Urgent care centers can range from cheapo doc-in-the-box franchises operated on a shoestring (the docs aren't paid all that well, and every Band-Aid has to be accounted for) to satellite operations connected with respected hospitals. Sometimes the docs have no idea what's going on in the management end.

It could be that everything will be fine and it's just a harried manager trying to make ends meet. But do keep your eyes open and your boundaries strong.

I hope you can get what you need from this clinic.

0 Votes
Specializes in Medical/ Neuro/ Telemetry.

Wow, not so safe huh? Are you an experienced RN?

0 Votes

I have 1 year of actual RN experience. I was paid for the few times I came in. As of today, I am still not getting any orientation. I have to hit the ground running first thing next week.

0 Votes

I'm glad they paid you for your time.

Without any real orientation, I guess you'll just be slow to start out with. Oh well. :)

Best wishes. Let us know how it goes.

0 Votes

No orientation??? I would be scared, and that definately appears to be a red flag.

0 Votes

Well all... UPDATE... it's the PITS big time. A few of the MA's and MD's have fused to the overall manager because I ask questions and do not know certain things. DUH... I received no orientation at all to speak of... I ended up getting a day and a half. :no: I asked for more at the urging of one of the MD's and was told NOPE. I could come in on a day off here and there on my own time, but that was it. No orientation.

SO... tonight was TERRIBLE with a captial T. The staff for the most part is ugly and yells things out like 'unbelieveable' if they ask me something and I do not know it. I overhear them talking on their phone and they say ' if I have to stay here much longer I am going to need oxygen myself.' Many of them are downright hateful towards me.

AND... question... can an RN ask an MA to put pressure on the end of a catheter IV as the nurse connects the port?? I am not asking them to draw or push meds.. just apply pressure on the catheter so it does not bleed all over as I connect the tubing. One of the MA's complained tonight that I asked her to 'apply pressure' to the catheter and she felt uncomfortable doing that and complained to the MD in charge. She is studying to be a nurse by the way. Come on... you cannot apply pressure to the arm while I connect the tubing. Give me a break!!

THANKS very much for listening!!!!

0 Votes
Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.
AND... question... can an RN ask an MA to put pressure on the end of a catheter IV as the nurse connects the port?? I am not asking them to draw or push meds.. just apply pressure on the catheter so it does not bleed all over as I connect the tubing. One of the MA's complained tonight that I asked her to 'apply pressure' to the catheter and she felt uncomfortable doing that and complained to the MD in charge. She is studying to be a nurse by the way. Come on... you cannot apply pressure to the arm while I connect the tubing. Give me a break!!

Why did you need a third hand? You apply pressure with the middle finger of one hand, hold the catheter itself with the thumb and index finger of the same hand, while the other hand holds the J-loop and screws it onto the catheter.

While I don't personally delegate to MAs and thus do not have a complete idea of what their capabilities are, I would question their utility (or, at least, of the MA in question) if they can't apply pressure proximal to what is essentially an open wound in order to control bleeding.

0 Votes

Thanks! I appreciate the input. I was not taught how to do IV's. I learned on a piece of paper (for real- sticking the IV through a piece of paper), and then one of the docs. said... 'Ok, practice time,' and I tried two on him. THAT WAS IT. Done. Training finished. So I ask the MA's (as I am not that good yet), to apply pressure as I try to connect the port and tubing. Other MA's have had NO problem with doing this, but the one last night.. had a cow. ;) Thanks.

0 Votes
Specializes in Telemetry.

wow, i give you SO much credit! don't give up and DONT STOP asking questions! that will put you at risk- if you are unsure, check the policy, ask others (even if they get mad). also try to make yourself cheat sheets w/ info you need all of the time (such as how to pull up certain things on the computer, or insulin onset times, whatever you need). wishing you tons of good luck!

0 Votes

Thank you SO MUCH!!! :redpinkhe :up:

0 Votes
Why did you need a third hand? You apply pressure with the middle finger of one hand, hold the catheter itself with the thumb and index finger of the same hand, while the other hand holds the J-loop and screws it onto the catheter.

While I don't personally delegate to MAs and thus do not have a complete idea of what their capabilities are, I would question their utility (or, at least, of the MA in question) if they can't apply pressure proximal to what is essentially an open wound in order to control bleeding.

Why aren't you using the bloodless IV catheter system Nexiva? No need for manipulation to attach tubing....no blood bath!

0 Votes
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Why aren't you using the bloodless IV catheter system Nexiva? No need for manipulation to attach tubing....no blood bath!

People are going to use whatever their employer provides them with. Nexiva catheters are more expensive than many other brands and the bottom line will always prevail. I know that the staff on my unit who have tried the Nexiva have uniformly disliked them for their weight and bulk. When you're putting IVs into very small babies where you're not able to stabilize any part of it against a body part, that's a big problem.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment