First job where? and Length of orientation?

1. Area of Nursing: ED

2. Orientation time for that area: Just under 16 weeks. For 12 of those weeks, I was only in the ED two days each week, plus two 8-hour days each week in an ED Fellowship (classroom and online training modules).

3. Bonus question: Nurse/pt ratio on the floor: Our nurse to pt ratio is 1:5. However, depending on which zone I'm in, I can sometimes get a "two-fer" in a room -- you know, two kids with strep, that kind of thing. But most of the time, no more than 5.

1: Area: ICU
2: Orientation: 19 weeks, could have extended if necessary
3: Nures:Pt ratio: 1:1-2

1) Area: Neurology/NCCU (both units are housed on the same floor, so we staff both)
2) Orientation: 6-8 weeks for the neuro floor, then after several months on the floor, another 12 weeks of so to get oriented to the critical care side of things (ACLS, Critical care courses included)
3) Ratio: 1:5-6 for the floor, 1:2-3 for the NCCU (on nights)

1. Area of Nursing: NICU

2. Orientation time for that area: 2 wks classes, about 1.5 months for level II and the same for level III..with a gap in between where you just focus on level II.

3. Bonus question: Nurse/pt ratio on the floor: 3-4 at this particular NICU

1. Surgical oncology with some medical overflow.

2. 4 weeks orientation.

3. Work 12 hrs nocs and start usually with 4 pts @ 1900 and pick up another pt sometimes @ 2300.

Med Surg Tele
Orientation: 8 Weeks.
Nurse to patient ratio: 1:6 on days. 1:8 on nights.

1. Area of nursing: NICU

2. Orientation: Was 12 weeks, but has been recently changed to 6 months: 3 months in Level II and 3
months in Level III.

3. Nurse/Pt. Ratio: 1:1-2 in Level III, 1:3-4 in Level II.

Unit: Oncology/BMT unit

Orientation: 6 weeks (30 working days) ready or not.

Pt. ratio: 1:4/5 usually, can be more if understaffed.

1. Progressive Care
2. 6 weeks, but received more due to the BON taking so long
3. 1:4 - 1:5 usually

this makes me smile as my first shift as a new grad was to cover sick leave in the ED on a Saturday night!! Started 2 weeks early so got 2 days of orientation when I was due to start - worked for 2 weeks then got 2 days of orientation lol!! small ED physically but we saw about 120 pt a day (more on a monday) and had 5 nurses incld the incharge!!