Orientee Responsibilities

[imenid37]

I am frustrated. We give new orientees online EFM and readings to do. They also have a checklist. Most feel it is "optional," even when they are told that we require assignments and checklists to be completed. They "never" have time to do their assignments at work. They are "too busy" and will not complete readings or other assignments when they are off the clock. These guys are learning a new specialty (perinatal Nursing) in depth. It is like another semester of School in a sense. They got the "general" info in school and now they are specializing and becoming OB nurses. No one ever seems to be too busy to sit at the desk on their smartphone and check or even post on FB OR complain about their schedule. Any suggestions to rope these guys in. We have had a few classes on hemorrhage, patient teaching, neonatal assessment, OB emergencies, etc. They spend a day with the LC. They do not pay close attention inclass and often look very bored. Many just coast along and complain that they have not been educated when they don't know something or do something wrong. Most are young (early 20's), new BSN grads. Many think they will go back to school for NP or CNM ASAP. How do we reach these guys? Why the lack of accountability?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

My first question for you would be this: What is the consequence to the orientee for this type of behavior?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Those classes are a part of their job . . . make it clear they're being evaluated on their performance in class. And then do so. Give quizzes . . . that goes in their permanent record as well. Quizzes document that they HAVE been given the information and that they've retained it long enough to pass the quiz. If they don't pass, they have to go over the material and take the quiz again. And if they don't pass it the second time, they get a meeting with the educatior, their preceptor (if they have one) and their nurse manager to discuss what exactly the problem might be. Is the material too difficult? Perhaps they need to try a different specialty and HR can help them find a position on a less acute floor.

If one or two of your orientees wash out of the program or have to find positions on less acute floors, it will help to focus your remaining orientees. And do you really want orientees on your floor if they don't care enough to do the reading and online material and LEARN the specialty?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

They "never" have time to do their assignments at work.

Is time scheduled for them to complete these assignments at work? My unit's orientation also includes online learning modules. The orientees are scheduled time to complete them. If your orientees are expected to be on the floor working, of course they aren't going to have time to complete the computer learning as well. If they are currently working with a preceptor, why not schedule a block out of their shift where they will complete the computer portion?

They are "too busy" and will not complete readings or other assignments when they are off the clock.

Expecting people to complete required education for the job while off the clock is unreasonable and likely illegal if they are paid hourly and not salary. My state requires non-exempt employees to be compensated while completing work activities. If I were to try to complete my annual mandatory computer modules from home and didn't report it as time worked, my facility can face a fine.

Either way, there needs to be a disciplinary process clearly spelled out for those who do not meet the requirements of the job.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

First, I know that it is incredibly annoying for people to tell you they are too busy to do something work related, yet they are able to play on their phones. Is there some way to set aside orientation time where they are able to work on the assignments or have a required class, during work time, to cover the material?

I am not an expert on labor laws, but I will play devil's advocate; I believe that if you are telling hourly employees to go home and do a required work assignment, they have to be paid for the time. For example, my job required NIH Stroke Scale learning at home. After completing the learning/assessment, we were paid a given number of hours once we turned in our certificates. I'm pretty sure you can't tell the orientees that they have to do these assignments at home, off the clock, and then not reimburse them for the time.

All that having been said, I have never had a job in nursing that I have not had to do some sort of "homework" for the job--either official or unofficial. Many of those times, I would not be paid for that off-the-clock work.