Orientation - What exactly happens?

[CarlyBelle]

Hello everyone!

I got the job as a patient care technician at Montefiore in NY. I am just waiting for my physical results to come in then I'm supposed to meet up in order to get my schedule. I will have to attend orientation first for a week before officially starting on the job. I know I should've probably asked my recruiter more about this when he told me about it but I was nervous and honestly I was more focused on doing good throughout the interviews than anything else.

What exactly is orientation? I would've guessed it's basic information on the unit, rules, responsibilities, etc. But I will be attending for 7 days straight and I was wondering if perhaps this is more based on training and going over basic skills.

No? Yes?

First job, no experience, so that's why I'm wondering what's to come.

[Paws2people]

Yup, you are correct. That's what the orientation will entail. On your first day they should give you an itinerary of each day and what you'll be doing. Usually it's a week or so in the classroom and then a couple of weeks of on the floor training. The classroom part was painstaking for me. LOL. It was mostly rules and procedures given by a number of different department educators. I couldn't wait to get on the floor for the hands on training. Congrats and good luck!

[Missingyou, CNA]

They will teach you the policies of the facility. Emergency procedures, personnel policy, do's and don'ts.....

They will give you the mandatory inservices that they are required yearly to provide like patients rights, infection control....

You will also learn where people/things are in the facility so you can find your way around.

When you get on the floor you will shadow someone. I sugguest that when you are shadowing someone, ask that you get to DO the work and have your "trainer" show you or correct you if need be. Be open to them showing you a quicker/better way of doing something.

You may have to attend specific "Orientation" days because others may also be attending and they can get everyone done at once, or you may be able to work out a schedule with them. It may be required that you attend 8 hour days or maybe somedays 8 hours, others 4 hours.....it Just depends on the facility...that is something you can ask them now.

Congrats on the new job!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Congratulations!

They will talk about HIPAA and the emergency codes for the facility like fire code blue/Dr.Stat or bomb threat. The will talk about fire safety and your responsibility in the event of a fire.