Question about nurses on orientation.

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

I was responsible for a new nurse. Two weeks on the job. She was a licensed RN with 1 year RN experience..She was assigned X amt of pts by the supervisor.

I was responsible for her, her pts, and the ones assigned to me.

My total pt load was 12. I was outraged. Should I have been?

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

You're being taken advantage of.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Yes.Where I work a nurse on orientation is paired with someone and they share an assignment.You should have had 6 between you.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Unless she was on her own and you were only a resource, absolutely you should have been outraged. Orientation for us is working with a preceptor for 6 weeks and then flying solo with another nurse assigned as the go-to person for questions who would have her own assignment to be responsible for, usually for an additional two weeks.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

Definitely taken advantage of. What can I do about it? Saying no, is insubordination, at least where I work.

Where I work we cycle through these bizarre money saving ideas. I can't decide if it's a supervisor being autonomous, or it it's the direction of the very top.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.
Unless she was on her own and you were only a resource, absolutely you should have been outraged. Orientation for us is working with a preceptor for 6 weeks and then flying solo with another nurse assigned as the go-to person for questions who would have her own assignment to be responsible for, usually for an additional two weeks.

I was responsible for her. But in all honesty, that night she was on her own, as I simply could not monitor her and take care of my load too. I spent the night jittery and anxious as I knew I could lose my job/license over a mistake I didn't make and couldn't control.

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Specializes in Adult Acute Care Medicine.

Yikes. Yep that's crazy.

Sounds like it was only for one night? (I hope that this will not go on for 6 weeks!)

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Absolutely. As others have said, you're being taken advantage of. There should have been 6 patients split between the two of you, or she would have 6 patients and you would be there to monitor her and answer any questions she would have since she already has experience.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Morally, you may feel responsible & of course very stressed out since it would appear that you are a very conscientious nurse. . . BUT, if the new nurse is licensed (which appears to be the case) you are not responsible or accountable for her/his actions. One of the basic tenets of nursing practice is to never accept an assignment that is beyond your competency. The new nurse is accountable for the assignment that he/she accepted, including recognizing when to ask for help or guidance.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Absolutely wrong. If you live in Texas claim safe harbor if this happens again.

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