non-oriented nurses working alone

[Cinzo]

I work in a facility that is allowing inexperienced non oriented staff to work alone e.g. a nurse showed up to work at 4pm her shift started at 5pm and it was her first time ever in the building and she hadn't done clinical nursing since 1996. She had not been oriented to the work space nor to our procedures. This issue was brought up throughout the supervisors and even to the director of nursing and I was told it was ok. Am I the only one who thinks this is crazy and what an opportunity for errors and lawsuits?

[live4today, RN]

Good point. Orientation to a facility is very important. That facility wants a warm body to keep the money coming in, but it is not a safe place to be a patient if the nurses are not oriented first.

[ANN2WATER]

I work in a facility that is allowing inexperienced non oriented staff to work alone e.g. a nurse showed up to work at 4pm her shift started at 5pm and it was her first time ever in the building and she hadn't done clinical nursing since 1996. She had not been oriented to the work space nor to our procedures. This issue was brought up throughout the supervisors and even to the director of nursing and I was told it was ok. Am I the only one who thinks this is crazy and what an opportunity for errors and lawsuits?

I know it's crazy. I also know it's a perfect setting for errors, and thus, lawsuits. In this era of finger-pointing at hospitals, doctors, and yes even nurses, this is not the time to be putting nurses, or anyone for that matter, in such a position. It is NOT OK, it is not safe practice, and if (or WHEN) the adminstrative personnel at your facility get named in a lawsuit, it may cause them to think twice. By then, of course, it will be too late.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

That's completely totally insane.

Was this nurse a travel nurse? Sometimes travel nurses are required to hit the ground running with very little orientation. But what kind of travel company would hire nurse who hasn't practiced in 9 years.

It it's not a traveler then not only should this nurse quit, but you might consider it what kind of place you're working for and think about leaving too.

[suzanne4, RN]

No nurse should be on their own in a new facility who hasn't been in a clinical area for 9 years. And to the agency that hired them: :angryfire, as well as the facility that even considered them working there.

Every reputable agency should be sending out a profile on the nurse that they wish to send out. Wonder what was on this one?

:angryfire And to the nurse who was stupid enough to try and pull it off.

Sorry, but to go in and no orientation and think that you can do it????? And as the only nurse in the facility?? What were they thinking?

[ANN2WATER]

No nurse should be on their own in a new facility who hasn't been in a clinical area for 9 years. And to the agency that hired them: :angryfire, as well as the facility that even considered them working there.

Every reputable agency should be sending out a profile on the nurse that they wish to send out. Wonder what was on this one?

:angryfire And to the nurse who was stupid enough to try and pull it off.

Sorry, but to go in and no orientation and think that you can do it????? And as the only nurse in the facility?? What were they thinking?

THEY couldn't possible BE thinking!!!!

I call it the "herd phenomenon"- just follow the one in front, and do what he/she does. If you can keep up, well goody for you. If not, well, I guess you'll get trampled.

Not healthy, and not acceptable among "professionals"........

Ann