124 FAST FACTS FOR THE TRAVEL NURSE
EXHIBIT 13.2 Questions to Ask a Nurse
Manager and/or Preceptor During Unit Orientation
1. What is my schedule?
2. How often is the schedule made?
3. What is the procedure to request days off?
4. How are changes made to the schedule?
5. What is the procedure for a sick call?
6. What are the penalties for a sick call?
7. How is floating regulated?
8. How is call handled?
9. What is the chain of command in this unit?
10. Where are the policy manuals, including the MSDS sheets, located?
not. This is not a concern. Your job is to learn everything you can and take proper care of the patients you serve.
There are several must-dos to complete during unit ori- entation. Ask the nurse manager for some one-on-one time.
Take a few minutes to get to know him or her. Ask any ques- tions that might have come up in the facility orientation.
She will assign a preceptor who will facilitate your orientation.
Exhibit 13.2 provides several questions to askof the man- ager and preceptor during orientation. The answers will give you a better understanding of the basic functioning of the floor, as well as your place in it.
Some nursing units keep copies of the policies and pro- cedures in a binder located at a central location. Others have
the policies on a computer-based program. It is best to know how to use and access the unit-specific, as well as the hos- pital-wide, policies and procedures.
If you are comfortable accessing the policies and proce- dures from their particular location, a check can be easily completed if the need arises. It is acceptable to ask a coworker for help, as needed, but it is also reasonable to refer to the actual policy and/or procedure manual.
Always put the proper care of the patient first.This point cannot be stressed enough. It will protect you, the facility, the patients, and your nursing license.
If taking call is part of an assignment, get all the specifics ASAP. The call schedule, how any changes are made to the schedule, the time frame given to arrive at the facility, pager use, call pay, and call back rules all need to be discussed and clarified prior to the first day or night of call. Learn how to set and reset the pager, as well as how to check the alarms, time, and other various settings. Ask if a copy of the instruction manual is available.
I made the mistake of not thoroughly reviewing the pager functions on one particular assignment. The pager sounded off loudly, at 3 AM the first night of call, awakening both my husband and myself. It was not the hospital with a callback, just a setting left on by the previous traveler. Learn from this example and be sure you know how your pager works.
Having call responsibilities clarified early will ease any ap- prehensions you might have. Find out how to gain access to the hospital or facility “after hours.” I was locked out once.
The security guard stopped me, interrogated me, and then es- corted me to the unit in his little golf cart. Okay, you can stop laughing now.
126 FAST FACTS FOR THE TRAVEL NURSE
Fast facts in a nutshell
• You will receive a unit orientation to become accus- tomed to the new floor and job duties. Asking ques- tions is an essential element of unit orientation.
• Learn how to access unit, as well as hospital, policy and procedures.
• Clarify call requirements and after-hours hospital ac- cess during unit orientation.
Double-check the route to the facility from home.Your coworkers should have good advice regarding traffic. There might be a quicker and/or shorter route available. The time needed to arrive at the hospital may vary with the time of day.
Try it out before the first shift, the first night shift, and the first call shift.
Fast facts in a nutshell: summary
On arriving at an assignment facility, you will receive a complete orientation that will cover pertinent hospital and required JHACO information. A unit-specific orien- tation will be provided to facilitate your assimilation on to the floor. Orientation is the best time to ask questions and clarify schedules, call, policies, procedures, and any other issues.
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Tips for Easy Assimilation
INTRODUCTION
The first few weeks on assignment can be treacherous. Every 13 weeks you are the “new person.” This designation is the hardest to deal with on the first few assignments. It seems to become marginally easier with each assignment com- pleted or it could be that we just get used to it.
Chapter 14 explains several tips designed to ease as- similation into the new facility. A questionnaire is presented for your completion. After answering the questions, an ex- planation of each answer is provided to help enhance the travel nurse experience.
In this chapter, you will learn:
1. How to make being the “traveler” on the unit a great ex- perience.
2. How to assemble a miniature notebook that will allow easy access to information required while working at a hospital on assignment.
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