Adequate orientation

shammy · Apr 10, 2005

YES 4 days of orientation as a new grad is unrealistic!!!! I would say atleast a month of orientation. Even though you know the floor from your preceptorship as a new nurse you will be responsible for you patients, the CNAs, etc. And you won't have your instructor to call for advice.... you will be on your own.

Good luck.

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Apr 10, 2005

Wow.....I can't even imagine such a short orientation. I am a new grad also...started work in mid-January & have my preceptor until the end of this month. I am in PCU so perhaps that is why there is a longer orientation, but I have never heard of only 2 shifts & then being on your own when you are a new grad. I would definitely question that.

Jen

http://journals.aol.com/jennerizer/nurse

Town & Country · Apr 10, 2005

Is this an unreasonable amount of orientation or am I just experiencing typical new grad jitters?

Do not accept this; it is ridiculous, IMHO...

hospice LPN to be · Apr 10, 2005

How much orientation would you consider to be adequate?
I am a new grad who has been offered a position on a a geriatric medical ward with 4 days of hospital orientation and 1 day shift and 1 night shift of ward orientation.
I did my last semester of preceptorship on this ward, but I'm concerned that this won't be enough orientation time. Is this an unreasonable amount of orientation or am I just experiencing typical new grad jitters?

I've just taken my first job as a new grad in a hospice house. They have a 90 day orientation. Not too much for me!

LeesieBug · Apr 10, 2005

Most of the hospitals in my area offer at least a twelve week orientation for new grads. I would definitely avoid working somewhere that offered less than a week.

Fiona59 · Apr 10, 2005

It sounds about right for Canada. I've only ever had a weeks orientation whenever I've been hired be it acute or LTC, its usually three days, two nights, two evenings, and then you are on your own.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Apr 10, 2005

It sounds about right for Canada. I've only ever had a weeks orientation whenever I've been hired be it acute or LTC, its usually three days, two nights, two evenings, and then you are on your own.

Even for new grads? Gosh, I hope not!

Yes, OP, that's an outrageously short time for a new grad to be oriented. I suspect they are desperate to get someone up and running, which screams chronic understaffing, which screams don't go near the place.

Fiona59 · Apr 11, 2005

Yup, thats for new grads both LPN and RN. When I went from LTC to Sub-Acute, I got one day shift and one evening shift for orientations because I already worked in the system and only moved down one floor...

Most of us were hired by places that we did our final clinical time at, so I guess they figure that we know the layout, etc. and don't need more. One place that I worked casual at only gave me two shifts orientation when I became a permanent staff member (everyone else said I should have asked for the full week) because I had worked there so often.

And in all fairness to the employer, I've rarely seen new hires flounder and sink.

Joeknee · Apr 11, 2005

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I think I'll talk to the unit manager and see if I can negotiate for more time.

humglum, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2005

That's an inadequate and unacceptable orientation for a new grad. I wonder what the turnover rate is like there. When I was a new grad, I oriented on my pedi med/surg floor for 16 weeks (that included classroom and hands-on OJT with a preceptor). I felt that was a little too long, I was ready after 12 (which I think is pretty much the standard new grad orientation around here, 12 weeks). Unless you're very experienced (i.e. having worked as an LPN and now an RN, for example), I wouldn't accept less than 12 weeks. If you feel you're ready before that, I'm sure you could come off early, but I always tell new grads to stay on orientation as much as possible. It helps having that preceptor to bounce things off of you and will build your confidence for when you're flying solo.

Good luck!

fergus51 · Apr 11, 2005

I don't think it's superunrealistic if she was doing a full patient load during her preceptorship. If it was a specialty area or a new unit I'd feel differently, but most of my friends only had one set of orientation (2days, 2nights) if they took jobs on med-surg from their preceptorship.