Whether your assignment is a short-term relief, an extended contract, a per diem, or a temp-to-perm scenario, you’ll want to feel comfortable in your new environment, both at work and within the community. What follows are a few things you should plan for on your first day with RTG.
Getting acquainted
There’s no doubt you’ll have all the right certifications and some experience when you come on board with us. After all, we hired you because you are a qualified medical professional, and we are proud to have you on our team. But all the expertise in the world can’t help you figure out where the bathrooms are in a new facility, or whether or not you can leave your cell phone turned on when you’re on the clock.
When you accept an assignment, we will give you all the information we have describing the procedures and policies of the facility. But on your first day at your new assignment—or even before, if you can manage it—you’ll want to make sure to gather all of the following information:
- Where to park and what passes or credentials you need
- What entrance to use
- The location of employee break rooms
- Where to leave your belongings
- Locations of vending machines and/or the cafeteria
- Locations of restrooms and changing rooms
If you’re in a large hospital or medical center, ask if a map or building guide is available for you to use as a cheat sheet until you learn your way around. Nothing we just mentioned is too complicated, but planning your first day can help remove a lot of anxiety.
The rules
Some facilities have detailed employee handbooks or other sources that outline precisely what is expected of employees with regards to behavior, privileges, and appearance. From knowing the correct placement of your name badge to the number of earrings you are allowed in each earlobe, employee handbooks can be an invaluable resource. Some places are pretty casual and don’t have many rules, and in others, you may be expected to figure things out on your own.
The rules you’ll need to learn, whether from a published corporate resource or from a helpful co-worker include:
- Dress code and appearance guidelines, including hair and jewelry
- Restrictions regarding personal cell phone use
- Internet usage policies (if you have access to computers at the workplace)
- Break and meal period guidelines
Setting a good first impression at your new assignment is critical, and making sure you understand the culture of your workplace is a good way to get started off on the right foot.
The new kid
You’ll be the outsider, at least at first, even though you’ll bring welcome support to the team. It’s a good idea to avoid making disparaging remarks, even in jest, about your new community or facility (we’ve already heard all the jokes about cornfields and outhouses in Nebraska, for instance). Beware of what you say about fellow workers; the old adage about not saying anything unless you have something nice to say rings true here.
And don’t forget: we’re here to support you. Don’t hesitate to contact your recruiter if you run into a situation you don’t want to handle alone.
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photo credit: frances1972 via photopin cc
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