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 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 health care.
Medicine/Surgery Orientation
This two-day orientation is incorporated into the last two 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 routines specific 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, contact us.