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Discussion

New Grad - Perinatal Float

Hi there :)

I'm a new grad RN ... I write the CRNE June 7 and graduate June 8.

I've accepted a job as a perinatal float nurse. This will take me to ob/gyn, L&D, peds and the NICU. I have experience (from clinical) in ob/gyn and the special care nursery (Level II NICU, i think), but am really nervous about doing L&D and peds.

I get 4 days of hospital orientation and 12 shifts of clinical orientation w/ an RN preceptor (w/ the possibility of more if i need it). 12 shifts for 4 units seems a little much, doesn't it?

I don't have any special certificates or anything ... I don't even know how to start an IV or draw blood (this is not part of our training in Ontario -- this will be covered in orientation) ...

I just already feel very inadequate and i'm not even there yet.

Anyone been in a similar situation?

Featured Replies

Hollie,

Contratulations on your graduation, and best wishes on your exam!

I would STRONGLY recommend that you not accept this position. It is meant for an RN with years of experience in at least 1, if not 2 or 3 of these diverse patient care areas.

A new grad should receive 3-6 months of orientation to NICU or L&D ALONE!

4 days of hospital orientation plus 12 shifts on the unit(s) amounts to only 5-6 weeks or training. That is BARELY adequate for ob/gyn OR peds. It is far too little to prepare even a very experienced nurse to work in all of these areas.

Another important consideration is that every new RN should have an identified mentor to assist with the care of complex patients and guide the new nurse thru professional issues such as time management, organization, prioritization, hospital politics, etc. If you float to a different unit each shift, you won't have anyone to guide your clinical practice or to help your navigate thru these important issues.

A nurse recruiter or manager who would offer such a position to a new grad is not acting in the best interests of the patients or employees.

Best of luck to you!

I agree with Jolie, L&D & NICU alone need serious & in depth orientation. It takes many people at least a year to feel comfortable in L&D. From experience, as a float, you may not get to go to L&D enough to keep your skills up. Do take serious consideration before accepting this position.

  • Author

Thank you for your responses.

The thing is ... I have already accepted this position. I start tomorrow (hospital orientation).

The hospital knows i am a new grad. I was offered a surgical float pool position (which i probably should've taken, looking back ... ) but my heart has always been in perinatal; i was excited and jumped at the offer.

I value my license; if i at all feel unsafe, i will say something. I will ask for more orientation, or something. I do not want to risk all of this before it even begins.

But i want to give it a shot. This is pretty standard (orientation time) for new RNs in Ontario ... All of my classmates are getting the same thing.

Thanks for your advice though. I will certainly keep this in mind as orientation goes along.

Good luck to you and congrats on graduating....but caveat emptor. This sound like a very poor orientation, particularly for a new grad. I would be very careful here. I wish you the best.

  • Expert

There is no way that the position should have been offered to you.

As a new grad, you do nto have experience in those areas as an RN, only as a student nurse, and it is not the same.

Sorry to be so blunt, what happens if the baby in NICU crashes on you? Will you be able to bag and do compressions? Remember that they get color changes very quickly and you do not always have time to call for help, you need to be able to respond immediately to the situation.

Labor and Delivery takes months of orientation for a nurse that is assigned there 100% of the time, so how are you going to be able to do that with a few days of training?

If you felt confident enough about it, would you even be posting about it?

Probably not, and the idea that a facility even offered a position to you like this, means that they could care less about your license.

You definitely need to put some serious thought into this.

  • Author

Thanks again for everyones responses.

I spoke to the nursing manager and it was all a huge misunderstanding ... I will eventually be floating, but right now i will start out on one unit, and orient for 12 shifts or until i feel comfortable. I also have three more 'classroom' days than i'd originally been told about. I won't be moved or oriented to other units until i'm comfortable on this first unit.

I was also told that it'd be at least a year before i got to do L&D... So ... I'm feeling quite a bit better about it all.

Thank you all for your advice.

Can you tell me where this is and do they have any more positions like this??

THanks

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