At Parkland, we know what it’s like to be the new nurse on the block. That’s why we provide all the orientation courses you need to get yourself situated and ready to do your best work.
General Nursing Orientation
The general nursing orientation program is offered every two weeks, providing the framework to prepare RNs and LVNs to practice in the Parkland Health & Hospital System.
Nurses attend up to five days, depending on their area of practice, before going to department/unit-specific orientation.
Outpatient Clinic Orientation
Orientation for RNs and LVNs focuses on the adult patient and consists of classroom instruction, as well as skills and demonstrations.
The newly-hired nurse is exposed to nursing as performed in the outpatient clinics.
Clinic-specific orientation with a preceptor is included to prepare nurses for their role in the assigned areas.
Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) Orientation
RNs and LVNs experience a five-day orientation that includes classroom instruction and skills demonstrations specific to working in any one of nine community clinics.
The curriculum contains pediatric, adolescent, and adult nursing to facilitate cross training between the clinics.
Clinic-specific orientation with a nurse preceptor is also included to help prepare nurses for their role in community healthcare.
Medicine/Surgery Orientation
This two-day orientation is incorporated into the last 2 days of general nursing orientation and is designed to familiarize new nurses with the policies, procedures, and nursing skills required on a general med/surg unit.
Lectures by nurse educators include topics such as chart forms, pre- and post-surgical care, blood administration, tracheostomy care, chest tubes, IV therapy, and central lines.
Demonstrations in a skills lab are available for those needing to refresh their skills in any area.
Unit-specific orientation with a preceptor is included to prepare nurses for their role in the assigned areas.
Medicine/Surgery Fellowship
This orientation program is designed for new graduate RNs who will be working on general surgery, trauma, or medicine units.
The fellowship encompasses didactic and clinical components.
Classes focus on wound care, IV therapy, neuro, trauma, ortho, general surgery, and medicine topics.
Class format is lecture, lab, and case studies integrated with clinical time. Orientees spend approximately 10 weeks with a preceptor in their assigned areas.
Mother Baby Orientation
In addition to General Nursing Orientation, new nurses in the newborn and postpartum clinical areas receive a four-day classroom orientation to familiarize them with the policies, procedures, and general routine specifics to high-risk antepartum, postpartum and newborn nursery.
Unit-specific orientation with a preceptor is included to prepare nurses for their role in the assigned areas.
To find out more about the Parkland Nursing Orientation and Education Programs, please call (214) 590-8535.
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