First job where? and Length of orientation?

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jul 11, 2005

Debbylyn,

I don't have much advice to give as I am not a nurse, but I do want to wish you the best of luck in landing a good job. Keep us posted to the outcome

debblynn13 · Jul 11, 2005

Thanks Jessica,

I think I am more nervous about my first nursing job than anything I have ever done. Everyone (teachers, nurses in clinicals, fellow studetns) says I will be a great nurse. But the more I know the more I realize how important this job is and how easy it is to mess up. I told the rest of my classmates during clinicals, to fake it until you make it. So that is I what I will do. I will exude confidence, ask questions, research like I was in school and sooner or later I'm sure I'll "make it".

Good luck to you in your schooling, soon you will be a nurse too!

Debblynn

Altra, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2005

I start my first job next week. It's a position in the ED. My orientation will be 12-16 weeks, and that orientation was one of the primary reasons I selected this position over 2 other offers.

I'm not sure about the pt. ratio. I have spent some time in the dept., and from what I saw I would make an educated guess of about 4-5 pts., but in the ED this varies widely based on acuity, overall dept. flow, etc.

Best of luck to you! :)

rn-n- 2005 · Jul 11, 2005

1. Oncology - (Adult) inpatient. 1 side of the unit is private rooms so they're for the neutropenic pt's mostly. The other side of the unit is for cancer pt's and if the hospital is full then the overflow goes there.

2. My orientation is 12 weeks. The last 2 weeks is chemo classes.

3. Nurse/Pt. ratio is 1/4-5. But if you have a lot of chemo or hanging a lot of blood, the charge nurse who makes assignments, takes that into account. Also, everyone helps everyone else out. Our techs can draw blood (not from a central line) and place a peripheral IV. Most of the pt's have central lines which makes things easier at times... :rolleyes:

Hope this helps and good luck.

Ann

HappyNurse2005, RN · Jul 11, 2005

1. Area of Nursing:

cardiac surgery pcu. Many many post cardiac surgery pt's-cabg's, valve replacements, pacemakers, etc. many pre-ops, chest pain, cardiac cath's,etc.

2. Orientation time for that area:

12 weeks, approx. more if i need it.

3. Bonus question: Nurse/pt ratio on the floor:

1:3 to 1:5, depending.

danh3190 · Jun 13, 2009

1st job - Med-Surg

Orientation - 8 weeks patient contact (2 weeks in class didn't count)

Nurse:patient ratio - 1 : 4-6 on daylight and evening. Higher overnight.

agilitydogs · Jun 15, 2009

1. Area of Nursing: CVICU

2. Orientation time for that area: 9 months to 1 year

3. Bonus question: Nurse/pt ratio on the floor: 1:1 or 1:2

libbyjeanne · Jun 15, 2009

1. Area of nursing: Med-Surg

2. Orientation: 8-12 weeks; Depends on how you are doing.

3. Nurse:Pt ratio: 1:4-5

stefano · Jun 15, 2009

1. Area of nursing: ICU

2. Orientation: 3 months

3. nurse:pt ratio: 1:2

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 15, 2009

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.

MB37 · Jun 15, 2009

1: Area: ICU

2: Orientation: 19 weeks, could have extended if necessary

3: Nures:Pt ratio: 1:1-2