I am starting my first night with no orientation. ITS my first job in the USA!
My boss just text me and say, we are understaffed, night CSS supervisor will show you around and help anything you need, but no one to precept you. =O
Trying to breathe! Okay calm down Remy. We've been through some crazy stuff before. Nothing we can't handle.
But did I mention this is a totally different field of nursing, not just different country? I was SIV?VMER in Portugal, meaning travel trauma/ER nurse, and HERE I am going into SNF now ALONE. Wow. I am not anxious person but I am terrified now. Help!
I can't think of any rational solution other than finding a new job as soon as humanly possible.
If this is what happens on your very first day, what do you think will happen when they get to know you and feel comfortable putting you in a horrible situation?
Hello, fellow foreign nurse, now in LTC! I've been doing SNF for 2 years, PM shift 1500-2300
I'm glad your first night of orientation worked out well! Good for you standing up for yourself! You will need that ability along the way, working in LTC. You see, managers will push your limits no matter how fast and good you become. Pile on more work. They need to BE TOLD what your boundaries are. For example, in my facility it used to be common to dump 2 admissions on the floor nurse, while there is 2 out of 3 CNAs present. I've told them this is not acceptable, they listened, did nothing about it. Next time, same story, so after 12 hrs ( shift is 8), I go home so tired, I just call in next day. Taught them a lesson. Now they know I will not do 2 admissions on one shift while running the floor. The worst ever had was 3 nurses instead of 4, 2 CNA's out of 3, 2 admits, a code, and a trainee nurse. I wanted to just sit down on the floor in the hallway, and sit there. But, I made it.
So, don't be surprised, and tell them what works for you, and what doesn't.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Call Department of Health NOW! and State Board of Nursing.....have them investigated
Investigating for being short staffed? Trying to save money by not paying for a nurse to orient? Except acute care in CA there are no mandated nurse ratios. There are exactly zero laws regarding orientation and precepting of new hires and new grads.
Bad idea? Absolutely. But there is nothing to report
(6) All nursing services personnel, including nursing students and nonemployee licensed nurses who are working in the hospital, shall receive a basic orientation to prepare them for their specific duties and responsibilities prior to performing any nursing functions within a patient care area. For employee nurses and nursing students, the hospital shall provide or arrange for the provision of training programs to augment their knowledge of pertinent new developments in patient care. The hospital shall also require that nonemployee licensed nurses obtain education and training pertinent to the clinical duties to which they are assigned.
(6) All nursing services personnel, including nursing students and nonemployee licensed nurses who are working in the hospital, shall receive a basic orientation to prepare them for their specific duties and responsibilities prior to performing any nursing functions within a patient care area. For employee nurses and nursing students, the hospital shall provide or arrange for the provision of training programs to augment their knowledge of pertinent new developments in patient care. The hospital shall also require that nonemployee licensed nurses obtain education and training pertinent to the clinical duties to which they are assigned.
That applies to hospital not long term care however.
I would absolutely not take the shift. It is unsafe for patients and for you and your license. This is a disaster waiting to happen and you will feel the wheels of the bus in no time flat. As they say in drug classes for kids - Just Say No!
mrphil79
154 Posts
I can't think of any rational solution other than finding a new job as soon as humanly possible.
If this is what happens on your very first day, what do you think will happen when they get to know you and feel comfortable putting you in a horrible situation?
Run away.
Fast.