First job where? and Length of orientation?

Published

I just applied last week to several hospitals in the area. I would like to have some idea what people are recieving for orientation times in the different areas of nursing. I have applied for several different areas since I have no one area that I love over the other.

1. Area of Nursing:

2. Orientation time for that area:

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

Thank you for your answers. Hopefully I will have some interviews soon and can start answering those questions myself.

Debblynn

Specializes in ED, ICU, lifetime Diabetes Education.

1. Area of nursing: ICU paid internship

2. Orientation: minimum of 12 weeks

3. nurse to pt ratio: usually 1:2

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Surgical/MedSurg/Oncology/Hospice.

Where: Med-Surg/Oncology

Orientation: 12 weeks (first 2 wks were classroom stuff)

RN to pt ratio: 1:5-6 days, 1:6-7 nights

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

1. Pediatrics -- half rehab and half medical

2. Orientation: was supposed to be 6 weeks per union contract but my NM found some bogus excuse to shorten it to 5 weeks, and refused my request to add the 6th week back.

3. Generally 1:4 but sometimes less depending on acuity.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma ICU, Peds ICU.

Neuro/trauma ICU at a level-II trauma center. Orientation is five months.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Float nurse- Pulmonary, oncology, cardiac (telemetry), womens care, ortho, burn, peds

Orientation- 10 weeks

ratio is 5-9

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mother Baby & pre-hospital EMS.

1. Area of Nursing: Stroke/Medical

2. Orientation time for that area: 12 weeks

3. Bonus question: Nurse/pt ratio on the floor: 5-6: 1

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

1. Area of Nursing: ER-OBS and MS-Cardiac Step-Down (I trained on both at the same time)

2. Orientation time for that area: 16 weeks combined

3. Nurse-to-pt ratio on the floor: 6:1 (OBS) and 5:1 (Cardiac Step-Down)

I am moving into the ED soon. I am told since I am not a brand spanking new RN my training is the following:

1. Area of Nursing: ER

2. Orientation time for that area: 6 weeks

3. Nurse-to-pt ratio on the floor: 5:1

-Yep still a New Grad who is still learning ...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

1. area of nursing: telemetry

2. orientation 8 weeks 4 on med surg 4 on tele

3. ratio 1 to 6 (put only 3 nursing assistants for a census of 30 to 38...***)

i can't believe i have a job on a tele floor as a new grad, it is at a small "urban" hospital...so crazy. i know the experience will make me better but there are so many things i just don't know.

and people really seem to just not give a $4#t about so much i'm a little flabbergasted at all the apathy...

i think after a year i'm going to apply to atlantic health so i actually work at a hospital where more than 50% of the things you expect to work (ie beds/glucometers/computers/phones/people) will actually function like they are supposed to... eyes on the prize eyes on the prize. right :0 :-)

love the patient care...but hate the paperwork(literally we use kardex's blech) and the attitude on some of my colleagues...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.

Area: CVICU

Orientation: 6 months+

Ratio: 1:1-2

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Area: Med-sug/pulmonary

Orientation: Supposed to be 12 weeks but i was on my own way be4 that.

Ratio; Started with 1 to 4 when i interviewed on the floor, went up to 7 when i was on my own.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Psych.

I've worked in a Med/Surg/Trauma ICU for just over a year now. We're a Level II Trauma center that functions as a Level I minus major cardiac surgery and appropriate research (we just got audited by the ACS) so we get some sick patients.

I had four weeks in a classroom and then 8 at the bedside before I was out on my own for the rest of my 6 month probationary period. Got good reviews on my yearly...so I guess I'm off probation!

Our n:p ratio is almost without fail 1:1-2. Only time I've ever seen 1:3 is when the nurse had one floor patient and two easy tele pts.

LOVE my job!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

1. ED

2. I have 8 weeks orientation, more if needed.

3. Each nurse generally has 3-4 rooms.

Good Luck everyone :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion