[ExTechie]

We had 4 weeks of classroom and 2 weeks on the floor with a preceptor for an extremely high acuity med-surg floor. Not nearly enough in my opinion. Should have been 2 weeks classroom and 4 weeks with a preceptor. I came off orientation kicking and screaming and complained that I needed more time...that bought me one extra day!!!!

[DMRoweLPN]

I am on a transplant unit where 12 weeks seems to be the norm. Yet almost all the new nurses are done by 10 weeks.

[RN516]

MY ORIENTATION WAS 6 WEEKS. 4 WKS IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE INSTRUCTOR LEFT US PRETTY MUCH ON OUR OWN,THEN WE WENT TO THE FLOOR-I WAS SHIFTED AROUND 4 DIFFERENT PRECEPTORS AND THE NURSE I SPENT THE MOST TIME WITH, WAS THE WORST NURSE ON THE UNIT. THANK GOD, THINGS ARE CHANGING FOR THE BETTER THE NEW GRADS WILL STAY WITH THE SAME PRECEPTOR FOR WEEKS WITH THE MOST QUAILFIED,TRAINED NURSE ON THE UNIT. I FEEL CHEATED, BUT AT LEAST THE NEW NURSES WILL BENEFIT. I AM ON A MED SURG UNIT AND THE TRAINING FOR THE IV INSERTION WAS 2 DAYS AND I ONLY DID ONE STICK AND THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANYMORE TIME, I REFUSED TO SIGN THE FORM THAT I WAS CERTIFIED. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHER I CAN FIND A GOOD IV CLASS?

[RainDreamer]

12-14 weeks on the unit with a preceptor, including 8 weeks of didactics.

[DMRoweLPN]

RN516 ... I am not sure how each hospital works, the one I work for has IV courses for LPN or RN. I was already certified (LPN), but I could go as a refresher. You should check into it just as a refresher, even. I will say though, it seems like switching preceptors is the norm. I was lucky and had the same one throughout. It seems to be a huge complaint though, with new nurses. Consistency is the key, yet if your preceptor stinks, you may be better off switching around a little. Good luck!

[grace90]

Usually 6 weeks but I managed to get 8 weeks as a new grad, plus 3 days of learning the charting, etc. I had 5 weeks on my med-surg floor on days and then 3 weeks on nights. I probably would have asked for more orientation but the nurse that I had been stuck with for several days in a row is a lazy, naggy, good-fer-nuttin' PITA so after 4 days with her I begged to be on my own.
What really irritates me, still, is that I was on my own roughly 3 months when the more senior nurses on my floor, with a h$%& of a lot more knowledge and experience than me, made ME orientate another new grad for several days in a row. Thank goodness she's an excellent nurse despite that, but still.... Didn't seem safe to me at all.

[Krisi_RN]

I am a new grad, we start with about 4 days hospital orientation, 3 days of learning the computer charting system, then 18 shifts with a preceptor. It went quick, I have been on my own a few weeks now, and sometimes feel like I know nothing and ask a million questions.

[Tweety]

12 weeks for brand new grads, longer if necessary.

[Piki]

12 weeks.

[Accio]

Originally Posted by TaraER-RN

In our ER for new grads or for those coming from non ER backgrounds we do 40 shifts with a preceptor on the floor, plus 6 weeks (one day a week each) of a regional training class and an our facility specific class to didaticley review things.

Wow! That is awesome... I would love for that to be true here in Florida... The ER in some of the hospitals here in SW FL (I'm talking specifically Bradenton/Sarasota/Tampa area), the ER new nurse orientation is SEVERELY less than that... :-( If I'm wrong, someone from this area let me know and I'll be applying!

Sounds like any new nurse would excell after an orientation like yours. Congrats!!!