[reencole]

I started this new job at a SNF unit .

How long was your orientation at work?

[TheCommuter]

My very first nursing job out of school was at a small, understaffed nursing home. My orientation lasted 8 hours before I was turned loose to work on my own. The orientation was intended to be 3 days long, but my trainer went home sick at the beginning of the second day, so I had to work the shift alone.

To answer your question, I had an 8 hour orientation at my first nursing job. My second nursing job came with a 16-hour orientation. I have never had a true orientation that lasted longer than 3 days.

[pagandeva2000]

I had two orientations at my job; the first 6 weeks was in med-surg (as a formality), the second was 6 weeks in the clinic where I am now working. Didn't think much of either one, because, basically, I am still feeling around.

[BigB]

2 weeks or so as a new grad...don't take anything less..its not worth losing your new license.

[SwtLttLPN]

Well my first job as a new grad was at a SNF as well & the orientation was rather short & a mess. I was bounced around from unit 2 to 3 without any clear direction for the first four days & trying to orient with a nurse that had only been there a week herself. Finally by the end of the week a nurse on unit 3 took me in under her wing. She did this because they had given her such a poor orientation herself & she didn't want it to be done to someone else. Although I appreciated this I ended up leaving 5 months later due to many issues that arose from the adminstration & felt my license was at risk.
My second job again at a SNF gives all the new employees two weeks of orientation. One week is paperwork, policies, HR inservice, & a few other nursing inservices. The second week is on the floor orientation. After that if you feel ready then you go solo, however if you need more time they are more than willing to schedule it. I primarily work 3-11 however since I'm picking up a few day shifts they are going to let me orient one or two days prior to going solo on days. In my interview the DNS told me that if she puts the time & money into the proper training then hopefully the retention rate wil be greater. Seeing how everyone including the CNA's have been there 7 yrs plus I think the two week orientation is working out just great.

[evaruth]

Originally Posted by SwtLttLPN

Well my first job as a new grad was at a SNF as well & the orientation was rather short & a mess. I was bounced around from unit 2 to 3 without any clear direction for the first four days & trying to orient with a nurse that had only been there a week herself. Finally by the end of the week a nurse on unit 3 took me in under her wing. She did this because they had given her such a poor orientation herself & she didn't want it to be done to someone else. Although I appreciated this I ended up leaving 5 months later due to many issues that arose from the adminstration & felt my license was at risk.
My second job again at a SNF gives all the new employees two weeks of orientation. One week is paperwork, policies, HR inservice, & a few other nursing inservices. The second week is on the floor orientation. After that if you feel ready then you go solo, however if you need more time they are more than willing to schedule it. I primarily work 3-11 however since I'm picking up a few day shifts they are going to let me orient one or two days prior to going solo on days. In my interview the DNS told me that if she puts the time & money into the proper training then hopefully the retention rate wil be greater. Seeing how everyone including the CNA's have been there 7 yrs plus I think the two week orientation is working out just great.

My orientation was about 1 1/2 weeks. The orientation was good but you still have alot to learn on you're own, thats where I think you get your best experiance.

[Elektra6]

I was lucky in my SNF. They gave me 5 weeks full-time with the same nurse (she was excellent). 4 weeks day shift, 1 week 3-11. Their philosophy was new nurses won't be successful without a good orientation. They were right and I stayed there until they sold the facility :-(

Good luck!

[caliotter3]

I had one week of orientation on day shift at my first LTC job. Then I went to my assigned shift (nights). I was no longer on orientation, but believe me, I was not hesitant to ask questions of anybody or everybody when I needed to. Otherwise, I could not have survived.