JFK Muhlenberg Harold B. and Dorothy A.
Snyder Schools of
Nursing and Medical Imaging
Orientation Information – NR 222
Instructor: Thangamani Aravindan DNP,MSN, RN, CCRN Cell: 9084779895
Unit: 4 North phone number: 732 321 7659
Pre conference every Wednesday is at 8:15am (days). Post conference every Thursday
from 1.30pm-2:30pm (days).
You will be caring for the following types of patients: arrhythmia, heart failure,
myocardial infarction, and pneumonia, patient with tracheostomy, patients undergoing a
cardiac cath and additional medical patients
Codes: Med carts ---- med carts ------, locker room .
Policy: Know the hospital policy for all procedures and bring the policy with you each
clinical day. Be able to refer to hospital policy when implementing procedures.
Review the civility contract and absentee policy. Make sure you handle all patient
information with privacy and confidentiality. If you are going to be absent or late,
please notify the clinical instructor. It is NOT Professional behavior to have a classmate
tell of your lateness or absence.
EPIC: There should be enough computers for you to utilize for research and utilize it
when looking up patient information. Navigate and familiarize with the EPIC System.
Remember that all the patient information is in the EHR. Look for the patients who are
leaving for the procedure and notify the instructor and the RN when leaving the unit with
the patient. If your patient is going to the OR see that the pre op checklist is completed on
time. If your patient is discharged, work with the primary nurse in preparing the patient
including vital signs, documentations and med reconciliation. Do not wait until the end
of the day to chart.
YOU MUST GO IN TO THE PATIENT ROOM, ASSESS THE ENVIRONMENT AND
SPEAK TO YOUR PATIENT PRIOR TO PRECONFERENCE.
The 60 sec assessment must be completed prior to the conference.
Priority assessments must be done in a timely manner (utilize physical assessment skills)
Make sure you follow all your lines and coordinate with physician orders.
Remember your keys to success are good organizational skills and priority setting. It is
your responsibility to notify your instructor in a timely manner.
Fall risk checklist should be completed by 9am along with the John Hopkins score AND
Braden score. Know the interventions to prevent a fall and a pressure ulcer. Nurses don’t
just collect data, they assess the data and have a plan. THINK LIKE A NURSE!!!!!
Make sure you are ready for med administration. Check the orders and the med cart
drawer in the am. Take refrigerated IV meds out. Be familiar with the SIPS protocol-
Give these antibiotics at the exact time ordered.
Students are not allowed administering the following types of meds: IV Push, and
IV Vasotec. We cannot administer IV narcotics and things like IV lasix push. Again,
make sure you communicate with the primary nurse.
All meds and procedures should be done with an instructor only! Be prepared to do
meds either day. Aware of your patient’s medication even if you are not administering.
All patients should be up OOB unless otherwise indicated. BE prepared for any other
skills such as dressings, colostomy, NG tubes and Salem sump, bladder scan etc… Fluid
balance- Know your patient’s fluid status throughout the care and not at the end of the
day. Very important in the post op patient. Know the VTE risk assessment score – can be
found in M/S assess.
Anecdotal due Friday 12pm days
Review doctor’s orders throughout the day, so you are aware of updates to the plan of
care very important!
Be familiar where emergency equipment is located. Always be prepared, as you do not
know what the day may bring! Act as though you are the primary Nurse, what do you
want to do and why?
Review doctors' orders throughout the day, so you are aware of updates to the plan of
care. In order to prepare for pre conference, utilize the following guidelines:
Do not come into the pre conference unless you have seen and briefly assessed your
patients. (Follow lines, pain, and safety)
What is the admitting diagnosis? Has it changed?
Be able to discuss diagnosis and signs/symptoms to watch for
What has occurred since the patient admitted (treatment plan)
What is the current treatment plan?
Include diagnostics and results
Include any surgery and the date of the surgery
Include current med profile
Include trends in lab values
Include trends in vitals
What is the discharge plan?
Be able to state 2 priority nursing diagnoses for the day including the plan of care.
The presentation should not take more than 5 minutes per patient. Be organized.
Tell a story about your patients.
Reminders
● Check med profile throughout the day as it changes frequently
● Check labs and look for trends- anticipate the next step
● Be observant- when in patient’s room ID issues
● You just don’t collect data you evaluate it
● Have a sense of urgency- fix it now
● When care is endorsed you are now in charge of your patients
● It is your responsibility to correlate data and reprioritize throughout the
evening. If something is wrong having a plan
● If something is told to you in report- it may not be true- assess things yourself
QUESTION EVERYTHING
Communicate, communicate, communicate!!!!!!
Student Signature ___________________________ Date ____________
Dr. Aravindan
Clinical Instructor
9084779895
