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Written: 4/85 Nursing Policy: N-46Revised: 8/86; 4/87; 4/88; 4/90; 12/90; 7/91; 6/92; 9/92; 8/93; 7/94; LSUHSC Shreveport, LA1/95; 5/95; 11/96; 2/98; 12/00; 8/01; 12/04; 9/06; 4/07; 6/07; 9/07; 8/10

NURSING CLASSROOMORIENTATION FOR NEW NURSING EMPLOYEES

PURPOSE:

To acquaint the new employee with policies of the institution and Patient Care Services.

To define a mechanism for assessment of initial competency of staff to perform job duties.

To provide specialized classroom orientation sessions in critical care nursing.

POLICY:I. All new employees shall attend the Human Resources Management Orientation according to policy. Employees

are advised during Human Resource Management Orientation to take care of their insurance needs within theirfirst 30 days of employment, since insurance coverage after 30 days is subject to review by the insurancecompanies.

I I . Classroom orientation for new nursing employees shall be held once each month. The initial new employee

Nursing orientation programs are conducted and/or coordinated by the Patient Care Services-Hospital Educationand Standards Department. A copy of the orientation schedule is filed in the PCS Center Education Office.(Refer to Patient Care Policies:Competency Assessment(N38), Preceptorship Program, (N47), andMandatory Education Day, (M60), for additional information).

I I I . All new Patient Care Services and Ambulatory Care Division employees, including current employeestransferring from non-direct patient care to direct patient care positions, alternatively scheduled employees (Flex,part-time, etc.) and all rehired employees, shall attend the scheduled day classroom orientation sessions andmeet Mandatory Education Day (MED) requirements within 30 days of hire. In addition, they must participate ina preceptorship program. A Classroom Orientation information packet shall be completed by each employee andsubmitted to the Hospital Education and Standards Office for data entry. Upon completion, the PCS unitmanager shall submit the Department Orientation Checklist to the Hospital Education and Standards Office fordata entry and once electronically filed, the hard copy shall also be returned to the manager. The OperatingRoom, Anesthesiology, and Ambulatory Care Division will continue to store orientation information accordingtodivisional policies.

Employees who attain a higher degree within the same department will undergo intradepartmental training toaddress changes in status/level of responsibilities, and will not be required to re-attend the general NursingOrientation in their new role; however, they will be required to take the pharmacology exam corresponding totheir new role. (Example: LPN to RN).

IV. New graduate nurses are also required to participate in the year long NE (Novice to Expert) Nurse ResidencyProgram.Exceptions:A.

B.

Utilization Review and Social Service Staff do not attend nursing orientation, but must meet pertinentMandatory Education Requirements.

Student Nurse Techs:Student Nurse Tech Orientation is scheduled through the CPR Learning Resource Center. Supervisorsshall schedule Student Nurse Techs into the CPR Learning Center within 30 days of employment. Theyshall meet the following Orientation and MED requirements: Telephone Courtesy, Body Mechanics,Infection Control, Fire/Electrical Safety, SNT Orientation Film, Utility Outage Management,Radiation Safety, OSHA, MSDS, and Heartsaver CPR. They must also complete a Student Nurse

Tech checklist and Participate in the Preceptorship program, the length of which is determined by theSupervisor/Director.

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C.

D.

E.

Student Clerks:Student Clerks complete the same orientation requirements as Student Nurse Techs. They may beexempted from CPR if they areNOT functioning in a student nurse tech role. The Patient Care ServicesHospital Education and Standards Director shall be contacted regarding such exemptions. Student Clerksshall complete an orientation checklist and participate in a Preceptorship program.

Restricted Appointments:

Employees in restricted appointments must complete mandatory education requirements according to theJob in which they are working through the CPR Lab within 30 days of employment. In addition, theymust complete the orientation checklist items that apply to their job.

J ob Training Partnership Act with City of Shreveport:JTPA workers must complete Mandatory Education Requirements according to the job in which theyare currently working. This is coordinated by Staff Training and Development. Supervisors mustassure that these workers comply with policy. For example, if JTPA workers must use the vital checkmachine, documentation of inservice and proficiency is required (Refer to Patient Care Policy, VitalCheck Machine, IVAC Model 4200, I38) for information). In addition, JTPA workers must completethe orientation Checklist for the items that are applicable to their job description.

IV. When orientation has been successfully completed, the orientation checklist is submitted to the Orientation

Coordinator. After entry into the computerized educational record, the checklist may be stored in the employeesfile in the PCS Unit Managers/OR/Anesthesia/Departmental Office; however, storage is only at the discretion ofthe department head.

V. *All RN's/LPN's delivering direct patient care shall be required to take a Pharmacology Examination.RNs, RNApplicants, and LPNs, shall not administer medications until they have successfully completed thepharmacology exam. A passing score of 80% must be attained (a notation shall be made on the OrientationChecklist indicating the month, day, and year the Pharmacology Exam was passed). An RN/LPN who does notachieve this score may retest two (2) times. Retake exams shall be arranged by the Hospital Education andStandards office. I t shall be the responsibility of the unit supervisor to assure that their employee attends aretesting session. Notification of test result(s) shall be given to the supervisor after testing. Study materials, aswell as individualized instruction, shall be available from the Hospital Education and Standards byappointment. If the RN/LPN fails to achieve a passing score after two tests, the appropriate Nursing Directorshall be notified. In the event he/she fails the examination after the third attempt, the Administrative Director isresponsible for determining what further action(s) are to be taken.*Exception: CRNAs and Advanced Practice RNs (APNs) are not required to take the PharmacologyExamination.

Note: The Pharmacology Exam will not need to be repeated for nurses who separate from the facility andreturn within a 12 month period, as long as the contents of the test do not change.

VI . Nurses newly employed in the Burn Unit, Pediatric Clinic, Pediatric Floor, Emergency Services and PICU shallattend or show evidence of Pediatric Trauma Training. These courses are available in the CPR Learning Center(8H-05) at 675-6954.

VII. Nurses new to Critical Care, BMT and Labor Unit, are strongly encouraged to attend critical care classroomorientation. Sessions are held at least biannually by the Patient Care Services Education Department. All

RN's in critical care shall complete the following competency exams with a score of at least 80%: Critical CareDrug Test, Arrhythmia Exam, Respiratory Management Exam, Temporary Pacemaker Exam, BasicHemodynamics Exam, Arterial Puncture Exam and IV Conscious Sedation Exam. New graduates,and experienced nurses new to critical care, complete these exams during classroom orientation.Experienced nurses who are not new to critical care complete these exams after reviewing a self-study packet.

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VIII. The Management Competency Assessment shall be completed to document initial and ongoing competencyfor Managers, Administrative Directors, Unit Managers, RN Supervisor II, RN Supervisor I, and RN III. Itconsists of Policy Review/Test, Skills Performance, and ongoing education as applicable to management level.

The competency exam passing score is 90%.

See PCS Policy N38, Competency Assessment for additional information.

IX. Employees shall also attend any other orientation classes as required by their Administrative Director.

X. Hospital ancillary departments who play a role in the delivery of patient care, may participate in the nursingorientation program by request from the supervisor. Participation of these individuals is coordinatedthrough the Patient Care Services Hospital Education and Standards Department.

XI . Employees participating in classroom orientation are required to adhere to the Patient Care Services Policy fordress code and call-ins. (See Patient Care Policies, T-12, Time and Attendance,and D-30, Dress Code, foradditional information.)

XII. In the event of absence during classroom orientation, new employees shall be required to make up the missedsession(s) during the next scheduled orientation program.

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Jamie Jett, MBA, RNAdministrative Nursing DirectorPsychiatry, Coordinated Care and

Professional Practice

______________________ _________________Signature Date

Jean DiGrazia, MBA, RNAssistant Hospital Administrator and CNOPatient Care Services

_______________________ ________________________Signature Date