Nursing Services Graduate RN Program

NEW GRADUATE RN PROGRAM

GETTING STARTED IN YOUR CAREER

8-10 week orientation

When you join the nursing staff of Mercy Medical Center, we take an active role in helping you get your feet on the ground and feel at home in your new job. Our orientation program will introduce you to our facility and to the mission of Mercy Medical Center, to our benefits, resources, opportunities and policies, as well as to the responsibilities of your new role as a registered nurse.

For the newly graduated nurse with minimal or no acute-care experience, Mercy provides an extended learning experience. Through an outstanding orientation program offering both didactic and clinical experience, the new graduate is exposed to concepts and related experiences pertaining to general nursing care and performance standards.

Through classroom time and clinical time in an assigned unit with a preceptor, you will have the opportunity to continue your professional growth, while learning to seek out and use the resources available here at Mercy.

A mentor to support you in your new field

Experienced mentors are here to help you make the transition from your student role to that of a practicing RN.

Preceptors

Preceptors serve as role models and provide teaching and training. As you progress through the orientation program, your preceptor will work with your manager and educator to provide supervision and support as your become an independent member of your heathcare team.

Individualized education & assessment

No two nurses are alike. That's why our orientation program is highly individualized. At Mercy Medical Center, your educator and preceptors will help meet your specific educational needs.

Self-assessments and ongoing clinical evaluations of your performance are obtained and documented to help you reach your goals.

For more information, please contact us at:
Human Resources: 330-489-1159
Nursing Administration: 330-489-1029

Please visit Nursing Employment page for employment opportunities and our new on-line application process.

New Graduate Orientation Program

I. PHILOSOPHY

We believe:
1. A New Graduate Nurse has competence in the theoretical aspects of nursing and the related medical sciences.
2. A New Graduate Nurse recognizes the limitations of his/her clinical experience.
3. A New Graduate Nurse recognizes his/her need to continue to learn and gain experiences.
As a new staff nurse we recognize that he/she has these needs:
1. To develop more realistic familiarity with hospital life.
2. To give nursing care to a larger group of patients.
3. To develop a wider range of technical skills.
4. To experience the continuity of patient care of all shifts.

II. PURPOSE

To prepare the newly graduated nurse to function safely and productively in the role of the staff nurse.

III. OBJECTIVES

Given a 8-10 week orientation period, and with the assistance of a preceptor, the new graduate will be able to:

Perform the duties of a staff nurse:
1. The staff nurse plans, gives and evaluates his/her nursing care for a group of patients.
2. The staff nurse demonstrates skill in providing nursing care by performing basic nursing procedures.
3. The staff nurse is able to safely administer medications.
4. The staff nurse instructs and involves patient/family in aspects of care including discharge planning.
5. The staff nurse clearly and concisely communicates information and observation through reports and chart documentation.
6. The staff nurse is responsible for developing his/her own personal and professional growth through self-evaluation of his/her strengths and needs.

Sample Time-lime of the 8-10 week orientation:

WEEK #1	Mon.- Fri. RN/LPN Centralized Orientation includes policy and procedures, IV review, documentation forms	Participate in RN Development Class	Focus on Organizational skills, priority setting, Lab studies
WEEK #2	Shadow with preceptor for 1 day to become familiar with unit and co-workers	Begin to take a small primary assignment	Take 2 patients for total care
WEEK #3	Primary assignment of 3 patients	Focus on medication administration including IV meds.	Focus on pertinent lab data	Provide taped shift report focusing on the priorities and pertinent information Provide taped shift report focusing on the priorities and pertinent information
WEEK #4	Primary assignment of 4 patients	Focus on documentation	Development of Plan of Care	Time with IV nurse if possible
WEEK #5	Primary assignment of 5 patients	Focus on physician orders and physician communication
WEEK #6	Begin Team assignment determined by new graduate's progress
WEEK #7	Continue Team assignment	Focus on priority setting, organizational skills, critical thinking
WEEK #8	Continue Team assignment
WEEK #9	Weeks 9-12 The new graduate needs to spend at least 2 days with the charge nurse.	Time with the UA to become more proficient with order entry and transcribing of orders	Continue with Team assignment

During the 8-10-week orientation the new graduate will be scheduled for the following classes depending on area of specialty.

Critical Care Core Classes:

ABG Interpretation
Basic Dysrythmia Interpretation
Care of the Neurological Patient
Care of the Patient on a Vent
Critical Care Survival Skills
Hemodynamic Monitoring
Introduction to Pacemaker/ICD
Multisystem Organ Failure
12-Lead EKG

Med/Surg Core Classes:

Cardiovascular
Endocrine System/Diabetes/Thyroid
GI/GU
Neurological Assessment
Orthopedic/CAPD
Wound Care
Pharmacy and Nutrition
Respiratory/ABG's