Orientation + OT

[Nurse_Lily, RN]

Just recently, I was informed by a co-worker that my manager had stated that an orientee (new hire) is not allowed to take OT pay. They need to arrive on time and leave on time, even if it means patient care isn't done. That means that the trainee RN leaves at 0730, regardless if report or patient care are not done.

Now, I usually do not leave or give report late unless the oncoming nurse arrives late. My patient care is done way before 0700. Two nights ago, we received report for an admission from ER at 0615. Hgb of 5.7 at 0145. No order for more PRBCs at that time. My orientee asked if the MD was informed of latest Hgb and the reporting RN said yes. Well, patient arrived at 0650. Lo and behold, an order for 2 units of PRBCs was ordered at 0630 stat. I told my orientee since it was a stat order, that was our priority. The next shift would do the admission. ER dropped the ball on that one, but that's beside the point. We finished up with report around 0800 after the first unit was started. My charge tells us to sign for OT, but the day shift nurse informs us about the OT and orientees ordeal.

I wanted to open this up for discussion. I'm focused more on teaching the new RN patient care priority. Do you think it is right that the orientee has to leave at 0730 tpo avoid OT and leave all patient care behind to the preceptor? My rationale is that it is not because once they are on their own, they won't be able to leave without finishing up what they need to do.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Anything to save a buck.

In reality, because a manager looks at the business side of things, an orientee is already being paid along with another nurse--so that is 2 salaries as opposed to one. And that is a lot of money they are putting out. And that is the priority to them.

If they say the orientee can not stay for OT, Ok, well, then they have to go home. This is a shared assignment, that you get left holding the bag. With that being said, was the blood ready to go at 0650? If not, then this would be something that could be reported off to the oncoming shift.

They don't want to spend any more on salaries than they have to. Who cares about the patient, the bottom line is the goal.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

I think you both should have left and the next shift should have picked things up.

[Nurse_Lily, RN]

With that being said, was the blood ready to go at 0650? If not, then this would be something that could be reported off to the oncoming shift.

Blood was ready at 0644.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Blood was ready at 0644.

Then perhaps the ER should have initiated the transfusion...... (I am just being fresh....)

The only thing you could have done is to per-medicate if you needed to, check the blood with the oncoming nurse, do your first 15 min vitals check, insure that there was no reaction, and then you both go home.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

You heard this from a co-worker, who knows how reliable she is. Whether or not orientees are supposed to work OT, yours did and as such, must be compensated appropriately. Her time sheet and yours should reflect the time you left and if the manager says anything, you explain what happened.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

The only thing you could have done is to per-medicate if you needed to, check the blood with the oncoming nurse, do your first 15 min vitals check, insure that there was no reaction, and then you both go home.

This. I would have hung the blood as soon as it was checked, gotten VS, and then begun report promptly at 0700. If the facility won't pay an orientee OT, then they need clock out by 0730. Sure if she were on her own, she might not get to leave on time....but then she'd be getting paid her entitled OT, too.

Would she get paid at all--12 hrs only, or just no time-and-a-half? If she is only allotted 12.00 hours, then absolutely she needs to leave on time. The only time someone should work for free is if it's in a volunteer capacity.

[elkpark]

Everywhere I've ever worked, you couldn't get overtime while you were on orientation. You were expected to leave when the shift was over. While on orientation, the orientee doesn't count as a "real" staff member for staffing purposes, so there is no reason to pay her/him for staying late to complete work since s/he isn't officially, administratively responsible for completing any work in the first place.

[Nurse_Lily, RN]

Then perhaps the ER should have initiated the transfusion...... (I am just being fresh....)

The only thing you could have done is to per-medicate if you needed to, check the blood with the oncoming nurse, do your first 15 min vitals check, insure that there was no reaction, and then you both go home.

My thinking as well with the ER. I also think they dropped the ball on reporting that Hgb to the MD. But that's beside the point. I took primed the blood tubing, took initial vitals and double checked with the oncoming nurse as she hung the back.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

Ours can stay to finish things with the preceptor, but they cannot pick up hours. I'd clarify this with management.

If they aren't getting paid and have to click out, then that is what it is.

[Nurse_Lily, RN]

I would have hung the blood as soon as it was checked, gotten VS, and then begun report promptly at 0700.

I don't think that would have been possible since the pt arrived at 0650.

Would she get paid at all--12 hrs only, or just no time-and-a-half? If she is only allotted 12.00 hours, then absolutely she needs to leave on time. The only time someone should work for free is if it's in a volunteer capacity.

She would be paid the 30 minutes extra as time-and-a-half. Obviously, because she worked during that extra time. I guess it is management trying to save a buck. Next time I'll let my orientee leave on time.

[Libby1987]

I send them home.

If you thought it warranted both of you staying OT, then it goes without saying that you needed to stay over. Whether the orientee had to go off the clock or not. It's not only warranted if the both of you can stay.."if my orientee can't stay then the next shift or ER should have done it." That doesn't make sense.