Orientation period

[brokenroads27]

how responsible are you as a nurse during a few months long orientation? what i mean is, i understand that as a registered nurse with a license you would be fully responsible for the patients that you have. but if anything should go wrong, especially documentation-wise, would your preceptor be MORE responsible? im just curious because documenting everything is a huge deal, but it seems so easy to have something fall thru the cracks accidentally.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Most facilities have a policy that preceptors must co-sign documentation during the orientation period. Which means that they should checking the documentation and verifying that it is complete and accurate per policy. So if something were done wrong, you would both be responsible, but your preceptor would probably be responsible to a greater degree since it's understood that you are still learning.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

how responsible are you as a nurse during a few months long orientation? what i mean is, i understand that as a registered nurse with a license you would be fully responsible for the patients that you have. but if anything should go wrong, especially documentation-wise, would your preceptor be MORE responsible? im just curious because documenting everything is a huge deal, but it seems so easy to have something fall thru the cracks accidentally.

I just assume it's all on me.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

You are always responsible for your own practice. Yes, your preceptor does share a certain amount of responsibility, but you are practicing under your own license, not theirs.