Advice for making the most of a short orientation?

Nurses New Nurse

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Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone on here had received a shorter orientation than they were expecting for a hospital position. I've basically been offered my dream position at a local hospital, but my orientation will be one week. I'm a relatively new RN, and have no hospital work experience.

Any advice for making the most of it?

Thanks!

Lisa

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First, let's figure out what "Orientation" means in this case...Are you talking about Hospital Orientation where you sit in auditorium for a few days worth of safety lectures, mission statement talks and be a part of the team videos, followed by weeks of on the floor training then sure, that's normal. If you're talking about actual on the floor with patients orientation as a one week thing? No way. It takes an experienced nurse a few weeks at least to get comfortable in a new place.If the second one l is the case, I'd seriously question whether you want to work for a company that refuses to set its new employees up for success. You deserve better. Keep looking!

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What position is this?

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It's for a Long Term Acute Care floor of a hospital. I wouldn't be cross-trained to the other floors, so I'd only be with the long term acute care patients. They're supposed to be the most stable patients in the hospital, but because it's technically acute care, the ratio is still 1:5.

I was told my orientation would be 2 days in a classroom followed by 3 days with a preceptor on the floor, then I'd be on my own.

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Lisa,

Woah that sounds crazy short orientation. I am also a New Graduate and when I hear I will get 8 weeks orientation, I already think it is short. I personally do not think one week is anywhere near enough and safe for both you and the patients. I agree with Livezen, even experienced nurses will need few weeks. I assume you have not start yet? Just ask a lot of questions and if you can, stay back and learn more before you have to be on your own.

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Specializes in ER.

My first job while in high school was working for a very popular franchise coffee shop.

I got a week orientation on that job.

A whole 5 days to learn how to make a coffee and put the donut in the bag...and how to press a few buttons on the till.

Nursing is short changing itself

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I would call them and clarify, and if the entire orientation is one week, do not work there. When they say one week, say "but how long is the floor orientation". If they still say one week run like heck outta there!!! I am in week 7 of my orientation that was supposed to be 12 weeks, and they cut it to 10 and I am panicking! There is SO much to learn and you need a lot of practice with certain skills. One week would not even be close to enough. People's lives will be in your hands, and there is one million + things to learn everyday and one week is absurd. If they think that is realistic, this is not going to be a good environment to work in and I am sure this is only the tip of the iceberg.

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Specializes in Acute Care Pediatrics.

I agree with the previous poster. If you have three days on the floor before they turn you loose - that's just unsafe and insane, especially when you have no previous hospital experience. I know that relatively experienced nurses on my floor come in and STILL get decent amount of orientation on the floor. I can't imagine being turned loose straight off the bat.

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