Inexperienced Nurse Doing ER TRavel?!

[NurseJacqui]

Just got this new nurse traveler and after working and it took me one shift to realize he has NO IDEA WHAT HE IS DOING! So he was paired with me and there were 5 teles, one critical and two belly pains at desk.I gave him 3 measly patients and told him to take any new ones that come in . Well 5pm comes and he says to me," Can you tell me about the three pts?" HE had been there for 10 hours and did not know a single pt...so the remaining 3 pts had not been followed AT ALL. I went off on him. HE can't start an IV to save his life, doesn't know how to hang blood. Then I asked him to do orthostatics on someone and he says he couldn't finish it because the automatic cuff wasnt working right. NEver occured to him to do a manual. As a traveler you get 2 days orientation to learn computers and the flow of unit ie where stuff is etc. But you can still jump in and take some patients. He just SAT there. So now he is on his 5 day and they have extended his orientation. That is BS. Then I find out he has been a nurse for barely a year. HOw can someone with barely a year not only be a traveler but a traveler in a VERY busy ER? Has anyone else experienced this? Its not fair to the nurse that has to work with him.

[Euskadi1946]

Wow that hospital really must be hard up for nurses. I was under the impression that agencies don't hire unless you have several years of bedside nursing under your belt!! Hmmm guess this guy slipped through the cracks!!!

[nightingale, RN]

I would say it is rare, to answer your question. Does the Nurse Manager know how inexperienced this Nurse is?

It is unfortunate, that this Nurse was put in a Travel Contract. From the sounds of his ambition, he is not a go getter (done) which only adds to the frustration for you.

night

[rnwaller]

Sorry to hear about this experience. The three agencies I work for will not except a nurse without one year of experience in THEIR CURRENT AREA. That to me means they must have at least two years of experience in something. Shame on the travel company.

[suzanne4, RN]

Some agencies will actually take a nurse with only six months of experience, and that is so unfair to everyone. But, how could the facility even extend his contract without knowing how he is working out............shame on them. It is not your job to train him, sorry.

And I would make sure to relay this to risk management. Looks like some lawsuits could come out of this from families where their loved one did not get the proper care.

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Just to add, now maybe some newbies out there that are wishing to travle after only a few months will beleive me as to what can happen. Don't do it.

[NurseJacqui]

Oh you better believe I said something..not only to HIM but to management. Their solution is to give him "more time" The ER there is dangerously short staffed but providing a mere " warm body" does not help It only makes it worse. Also I dont think I as a traveler should have to orient another traveler. They also paired a nurse with me who is on orientation and from another coutry who lacks very basic NURSING skills. She is not a new nurse but in her country the doctors do everything. Dont ask me how she ended up in ER. She is hired as a staff nurse. I told managemnt I dont feel it is appropriate for a travel to precept a staff nurse. Luckily my contract is up in 4 weeks.