Disclaimer! *This article is not meant to make fun of or make anyone feel bad.  In no way, does this article represent anything any hospital or health system stands for.  It is purely our opinions of what makes a great and not so great orientee, and we want you to be a GREAT orientee! *

1.      Show up late and not ready.

2.      Complain about the schedule and ask a mentor to change the schedule to accommodate them.

3.      Don’t ask questions. 

4.      Ask redundant questions. If you have crushed meds 2 shifts in a row, don’t ask how to crush meds again.  If you have a question about the types of meds to crush, or if it is a different route, absolutely, ask away.  But, if you are asking the same question you’ve been asking for 3 shifts in a row, your mentor is probably going to give you a smart a$$ answer.

5.      Not communicating.  You’ve got to communicate.  If you are in over your head with an assignment, if your mentor is acting like it’s your first day and it’s your 30th shift, or if you are having real-life issues, COMMUNICATE!

6.      Amnesia.  See, do, teach. When someone takes the time to teach you something, setting up an arterial line, setting up suction, or making a bed, get ready to do it.  If you don’t understand what you just saw, refer to number 5. (COMMUNICATE) Nothing is more frustrating than showing someone how to do something, and then hearing that they’ve never seen *insert blank* before.  The phrase, “No one ever showed me that” will turn a mentor into Cruella Deville when she realizes the puppies escaped.

7.      Not answering call bells.

8.      Letting another nurse know that their IV pump is alarming.  Fix it.  It is okay to let the nurse know that a bag of fluid is almost dry, and you’ve got to get back to your patient, just FYI.

9.      Knowing EVERYTHING. You don’t. No one does.

10.  Not accepting/hearing feedback. Keep an open mind on orientation.  It’s hard to hear feedback, especially if it’s not positive, but keeping an open mind and having a willingness to listen will go a long way.

What have you seen on your unit that grinds your gears?