6 weeks orientation then left alone? What to do..

Published

So I am about to come off orientation. a nurse and a tech both put in their 30 day notice and are done about when I come off 6 weeks orientation to dialysis. The clinical nurse supervisor had a vacation scheduled and wants to still go. They put in for a traveler but the 1 candidate they got cannot start until the vacation is over. So the plan is to have the nursing manager (she manages med-surg and dialysis, has icu experience but has not worked dialysis EVER is going to train for 3 days and work with me in the mornings MWF and all day (one shift of patients) tuesday and thursday until the 2 week vacation is over.

The first day of this I am not even technically off orientation yet! I feel like this is wrong and unsafe! HELP

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sounds very unsafe to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Has this been escalated up the chain of command? Is your medical director informed? He/ she is responsible if an incident occurs and I highly doubt they would approve of this plan.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis. OR, cardiac tell, homecare case managem.

not safe

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, LTC, Clinical Management.

What is the staffing pattern like? How many techs each shift/per patient? How many stations in the unit? If you have good, well-experienced techs working with you, you may survive.

Otherwise, I agree that the medical director should be aware as he is responsible for the welfare of these patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When you quit smoking, you quit smoking, you don't taper. Catch my drift? It is unsafe, yeah and i'll be scared too but in all honesty, welcome to the real world. We are nurses, we take on water with both feet. Next time do a research before applying, sometimes some units have a history of mismanagement and chaos. A well manage company or unit won't be giving you orientation then, because all employees tend to stay longer with very few turn overs. Sorry if i am so brutally honest.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How many other RNs are there? If there are none, and you've only received 6 weeks of orientation, then it is very unsafe (I'm assuming you've never done HD before). You are well within your rights to refuse to do this. If something happens, you will be held responsible (along with the facility). If the director han't done HD before, she will be of no help to you at all. This is a potentially very dangerous situation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's not an idea situation, but if there are very good techs, then it's doable.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

6 weeks? Holy crap I get 6 months before I'm let loose in the hospital by myself and taking call....Completely unsafe...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Need to move on up the food chain - the medical director needs to be notified of your concerns.

I don't care how wonderfully trained your techs are (and many are) - YOU are the one holding the ball if something happens.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So what happened OP?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

6 weeks doesn't seem unreasonable to me and you are not being left alone. It's scary, but that's what nursing is. Don't underestimate or piss off your techs (bribing with doughnuts never hurts). Let them know you are scared and ask for help but do not vent down the ladder about how unsafe it is for you to be on the floor. If you feel that you're a danger to the pts then quit. If you are not a danger to the pts then show up and do your job with all the confidence you can fake :-)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion