New RN off orientation...should she be alone?

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Specializes in MICU, SICU.

Hello everyone!

Hoping to get some feedback on this. Allow me to set up this situation for you all. There is this RN (let's call her Sam, not her real name). Sam is recently off of orientation. She is consistently late, (3 times this month, and that is just when I've been giving her report!!) gives SCARY report (as in she knows nothing about a patient she's had 2 nights in a row and I'm getting report for the first time from her), and generally, just doesn't seem like she's safe or competent.

For example, when I was giving her one of my patients yesterday, who was "comfort care" only (pt went to hospice the next day), I didn't feel safe for my patient, and he is dying! I explained that he had been having a lot of secretions and I'd had to NT suction him a lot. She said, "Ok, I can handle that." I had this feeling, so I asked (as gently as possible, I was new once too!) if she had ever NT suctioned before. "No." Ok, so I took her in the room, demonstrated how it's done, then went to the supply pixis, got her the kits, and asked if she had any questions. No. Ok, I'm about to go home then:p When I'm getting ready to leave (and, it's almost 8p since she was late, now I'm late getting home) she is already sitting down in the break room eating. I know full well she hasn't assessed her pts yet. :angryfire

And, when I started giving her report, I said, "Oh the roads must be bad, huh?" to see if that is why she was late. Her reply was, "No, I'm just a late kind of person." :uhoh21: WHAT?! I didn't say anything about that, but HELLO this is a PROFESSION here, not a part time job at a pizza shop or something!! Sorry this is so long, but just wondering what everyone would do. I do not feel comfortable with this RN taking care of patients by herself. I'm a new nurse too, 1 year now, but she seems unsafe to me. Suggestions?

Thanks a ton!

Nurse Kern

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If you feel unconfortable with this nurse you need yo bring this issue to your supervisor. Her inexperience may play a part in the issue but nothing will be resolved if it is not brought to some one who may be able to correct it. Also this nurse may not relize that there is a problem. For the safty of your Patients bring it out in to the open.

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.
I know full well she hasn't assessed her pts yet. she seems unsafe to me.

Do you know FOR SURE she hadn't assessed her patients yet?? I don't think I'd report anybody for "seems unsafe to me". Does she seem unsafe to others as well?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only thing I see here is tardiness.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU.

Originally Posted by nursekern

I know full well she hasn't assessed her pts yet. she seems unsafe to me.

Originally posted by true sn

Do you know FOR SURE she hadn't assessed her patients yet?? I don't think I'd report anybody for "seems unsafe to me". Does she seem unsafe to others as well?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only thing I see here is tardiness.

I'm sure she hadn't even LOOKED at her patients yet, as she walked in front of me to the break room and started munching on some dinner. I will talk to someone about this tomorrow. I am new to the organization and don't want to make any major waves, however, I do feel as though this nurse is unsafe. Thanks for your input:)

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Nurse Kern,

You need to report it to your supervisor/nurse manager ASAP. I have been in your situation before--"Oh, she/he is a new nurse..I will give them some time". Listen to your gut!! Put it in writing and give it to the appropriate person immediately. This nurse (shameful to call her one) is so complacent, oblivious, unprofessional and immature. Not to mention scary. I remember being a new nurse...getting there way before my shift, reading my pts hx, wondering when the "lightbulb" would go on, and overobsessing if I assessed my pts appropriately or not!! She is brand new and not doing one of them?!

She needs to go!!! At the very least..a written reprimand for her negligence.

Be the patient advocate, that I am sure you are, and notify someone immediately.

Let us know what comes of it.

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

Yep talking to your supervisor is the common way to address that.......good luck.

renerian

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How did someone like this get off of orientation? She never even NT suctioned someone on orientation? I can't underscore how important it is to NT suction. I can't tell you how many times I have prevented someone from reintubation thanks to good NT suctioning! That is crazy.

Whoever oriented her should never have signed her off.

I could handle the occasional lateness (it happens) - I am never late for work (more than 2-3 minutes) and I hate when people get pissed off at people 5 or 10 minutes late since honestly, who cares? Tardiness is not a problem compared to the bigger problem of this nurse not being able to do her job.

It would be negligent not to report her. She is not safe and should not be in critical care.

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Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

No this nurse should not be practicing. I hope the original poster has spoken to her NM about this RN. Plus someone should also speak to this nurse privately. That's how I'd want to be dealt with. Whoever oriented her didn't do a very good job either from the sounds of it.

As far as the lateness thing goes, I for one have a problem with people who are chronically late. There is NO EXCUSE for consistently being late. I can cut some slack for those who are a few minutes late once in awhile but in my unit we have people who are late every single day they work! And that holds me up. Especially if I have to be back to work in 12 hrs. I live 45 minutes away from my work place and I am NEVER late! Even in inclement weather, which happens frequently where I live in NE Ohio, I am always ON TIME! It's the folk that live in town where the hospital is located that are always late.

I get up at 0430 on days that I have to be at work at 7 am as I have to take my 20 month old son to my mother's house and I am still on time. I'll step off my soapbox now.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU.

Thanks for all of your replies! I spoke with the NM yesterday and she assured me that it would be followed up on by her. She (the NM) is great and I really hope that something comes of it.

It's not that I think the RN in question should be booted from Critical Care, I just think she needs more orientation. If she STILL isn't getting it after that, then maybe she needs to consider a new place. She is a new grad and has had at least 6 months of orientation already. I'll let you know what happens from here. As you know, most times it takes awhile for action to be taken, but hopefully this is serious enough that it will be looked into soon.

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