Orientation

[AngiereeRN, ADN, BSN]

Hi Everyone

I was looking for some advice from my fellow travel nurses. I finally found an assignment and I am in the first week orientation. I've just been in nursing orientation with all new hires and so I'm a little confused about the process. As of now, I don't have a schedule or even know what floor I'll be working on. I asked about shadowing and when I would get a chance to go on the floor and shadow with a nurse for a shift (preferably night shift since that's what I'll be working) just to get the feel of the floor and find out where everything is. The educator told me I'd be able to go on the floor tomorrow while everyone else takes a test and she said something about Friday but didn't give me a time or unit. I have a continuation of nursing orientation, just classroom, tomorrow and Thursday (computer class) and then I don't know what or where? I was even told by my agency that I was to show up for orientation on Monday morning only to get there and be told that travelers don't attend general orientation and I needed to come back Tuesday. Today, the same thing happened with two per diem nurses, they were told that they had to leave because the facility doesn't give orientation to per diem nurses. Basically, no contract no orientation. I only found out about Wed and Thursday because I asked. My recruiter has not been helpful, she just told me to ask whoever I could find tomorrow about shadowing. Is it normal to feel this in the dark in the beginning? I'm also concerned because this facility's lab is only open part time and so the nurses draw their own labs. I've been an RN for 2.5 years and the facility where I worked didn't allow nurses to do those. A coworker even got written up when she tried to practice right before becoming a travel nurse. How do I handle that? It's not something I could've practiced doing because it was against policy.

[NedRN]

You almost certainly will either shadow a nurse for a day, or someone will spend a few hours with you to show you the unit and procedures. Don't draw labs without a one on one in-service until you are comfortable. The lab might suggest a phlebotomist you can learn from. Until then, you will have to get a colleague to do it.

It is a very anxious time to be on your first assignment and not hit the unit for several days. Try not to worry, it will all work out. Yes, your recruiter will be completely useless. Not a nurse, and has never been a traveler or to an orientation.

I'm astonished that you don't know what unit you are on. What on earth does your contract say?

[AngiereeRN, ADN, BSN]

It's an LTACH so most of the units are similar. One unit is mostly ortho and one is for patients that are more critical and need more observation, so the unit issue isn't that bad. I just don't like the ambiguity. First time jitters, I suppose. On a positive note, I love my apartment, it's in a great neighborhood, and I already like my neighbors (3 of whom are cops so I feel a little safer so far from home)!

[PNW_NPstudent]

I don't think it's that unusual to not know exactly where you will be working or your schedule. I have had some assignment that were exceedingly organized with printouts of my schedule, cheat sheets for the unit, and protocols. A few places weren't so organized and I showed up for unit orientation and didnt find out until the end of my shift what my next day to work would be.

As far as labs go...do you not start your own IVs? Basically, same thing.