Terminology Questions

[ColdChief]

What is meant by "orientation?" I was reading a person's post about their experiences during a 3 month orientation, and it's not clear to me what is meant by it.

Also, what are "trials?" How long do they last (per day and overall), and do they take place during the school year or after school is completed?

Thanks for your patience with my ignorance. :)

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

The Purpose of New Employee Orientation

[Biffbradford]

When I first started, I over heard this conversation, and I had no idea what it meant:

A: "Does she float?"

B: "I don't know, she was orienting last week."

Does she float? WHAT?????

[Jenni811, RN]

Are you not in nursing or something?

Float means...does she go to other floors. When someone is a "float" they are trained on several units and can work on these various units. So they are not stationed in 1 unit. For example...I work in Cardiology. We have nurses that "float" to our unit. Meaning, they are not stationed in our unit but they are trained in our unit if we need it. Its difficult to work in a different unit when you are used to one thing. Like i could not float to the ICU because i am not trained in the ICU. Now if i were trained in the ICU and the ICU needed it i could "float" there. Make sense?

Orientation is the period of when you are training on the job. Some places have different orientation time periods. So when i started my job, my orientation was 10 weeks long. Meaning i would be training on the job for 10 weeks. Some places go longer, and your orientation can be extended if needed.

[ColdChief]

Thanks for the information.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

In which context did you hear the word "trials"? If you were hearing "clinical trials", it means that a new treatment regimen (pharmaceuticals mostly) is being tested on volunteers. For example, there is a clinical trial right now for a new Hep C treatment thought to be very effective. One of the surgeons that I work with was telling me about this because he is involved in the research. Patients can elect to enter the clinical trial with the understanding that the treatment may or may not be effective for them. There are rigid guidelines and protocols included in the studies. A clinical trial is primarily for gathering research, observing and tracking responses, and measuring outcomes.

Is this the kind of trial you meant?