Traveler orientation

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Do travelers have to sit through the long drawn out hospital values and missions part of the orientation every time they start a new assignment or is it just computer training? Do you take pharmacology exams at traveler orientation? Or does it all depend on the hospital?

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It really depends on the hospital and unit. In the end, there are certain things that MUST be included, such as glucometer training. I've had "orientations" where I just read through a binder of policies and procedures, then followed a nurse for a shift to get the hang of the computer system. It's more popular for hospitals to put you through their general orientation, sitting through a day of corporate compliance speeches and such. Sometimes, if the hospital is expecting a large amount of travelers, such as EMR conversions, they have a specific traveler orientation, filled with speeches similar to general hospital orientation but tailored to travel RNs. This is my experience anyway.

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Specializes in OB.

Depends on the facility. The only part I've been routinely able to talk my way out of is when they start going over the employee benefits.

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Yeah, the hospitals I've been permanent staff at have had travelers at all the mission/values stuff, plus computers; my first assignment I started out on the floor without orientation. I had to sign something saying I'd read the values statement, and I think maybe the infection control policy.

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Basically its about going for the right thing which comes around and lets us grow in a few factors. Currently if we see the ways of understanding all these things a lot is necessary to be talked about so yeah this is how it is.

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Um, what?

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Specializes in NP. Former flight, CCU, ED RN and paramedic..
Um, what?

I haven't understood any of that persons posts either.............

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Either that's a very bad translation program or they're a spammer/bot. None of the 5 posts they put up yesterday since joining made sense.

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Haha lol!! I was pretty confused- I read it 3 times before I gave up.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
Basically its about going for the right thing which comes around and lets us grow in a few factors. Currently if we see the ways of understanding all these things a lot is necessary to be talked about so yeah this is how it is.

Thanks for the headache!! Now I need Tylenol ... :p

BUT ANYWAY, my orientation was specific for travelers and per diems (the perm hires were right next door in more cushier surroundings lol), no discussion about retirement plans or whatever. Straight to policies, procedures and specific temp employee expectations, timekeeping and admin stuff. Also trained on IV equipment, accuchecks, etc. Then you undergo one or two shifts of orientation on the unit and you're off! That is my experience anyway at a huge urban teaching hospital known for using lots of travelers.

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The first facility (i was there 9months) I went to was one day hospital orientation, one day nursing, and one day computers then one day of orientation. The second facility (only stayed 5 weeks) was a FULL 5 days of hospital/nursing/computer orientation. It was brutal. And the first couple days we didn't even get a lunch and even bathroom breaks were minimal. Of course orientation on the floor was only one day.

I find it interesting how focused facilities can be regarding those pesky orientations we've all been through numerous times. I know it's all for compliance purposes but giving very limited orientation to the floor after making you sit through five days of the same repetitive information just seems so backwards. I'd much rather "read through" the info on my own time and get to work. But that's just me... :bag:

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Does the agency pay the RN for orientation? Is it usually included in the contract length or is it additional? (For instance, 13 wks + 1wk orient)

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