Is a six week orientation too short?

[Nola009]

At first I didn't think it was, but now I do. Especially considering the fact that it's a hospital with a fairly high turnover, and an extremely awkward computer charting system that is so bad only the employees who've worked at this place for years have a good grasp on it. Add at least one admission & discharge per day ... Does this seem right or fair? Especially for a newer grad with only ltc experience??

[iPink, BSN, RN]

How long was your LTC experience? If you had at least a year, you are no longer a new grad and therefore would get 6 weeks.

Are new grads with absolutely no experience getting 6 weeks too?

Sent via iPink's phone using allnurses

[Nola009]

Well, they give new grads 8 weeks. I got three days of orientation per ltc job I had. I quit one of those ltc jobs (it was based on the "small house concept" and I was the only nurse for three houses of residents and skilled/rehab patients.) after six months because I felt it was unsafe. I am stil prn at the other ltc and have caught on to more because there are always two of us working in the building /shift. Even if we're new, we can bounce ideas and info off of each other. I have been there a year. So, I was working there six months when I got this hospital job.

[Jules A, MSN]

Although I can't imagine getting more than a few shifts of orientation, just my experience and I'm probably a touch jealous of the reports of all these lengthy orientations :), I would imagine it should be somewhat specific to the individual. If you need more time I would speak to your nurse mgr sooner rather than later. FWIW I'd also minimize the excuses as both your posts sound like you have a long list of grievances about how much longer new grads orientation is, faulty computer systems, feeling unsafe, heavy patient loads etc. I'm not saying your points are valid just that I'd skip it and be very succinct in that you are really enjoying this new position, want to do an excellent job and are feeling as if you might need extra orientation time. Good luck.

[Nola009]

Thanks. In real life, I spare people negative details, which are not excuses, but info I used when making my own decisions. With post #2, I was trying to answer ipink's questions.

[melizerd, ASN, RN]

As a new grad I received 12 weeks, with the option to add another week or two if needed (several people used that). I'm on a busy med/surg/onc floor. I'm finding out that my hospital doesn't seem to be the norm though lol! I would have wanted more than 6 weeks, but I'm hearing lots of people only getting that.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

I am getting 12 weeks orientation

[TheNGTKingRN]

We have a 4 to 1 ratio but I'll dc anywhere from 1 to 4 in a given day. Lol. I hate discharging and having one rolling in as one leaves with the phone ringing for report for another. SO SO SO nerving.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

Admissions and discharges are the two most labor intensive tasks on a medical surgical unit. Having to do them back to back amounts to 2 to 3 man hours at least per shift, and if you are in a unit that turns over half it's census every day, you will pick up speed as you get more experience.

Make up some checklists or cheat sheets for every step of a transfer, discharge and admission so that you are efficient, organized and have a plan in place. I mentally set a time in which to get it done and you should ask for help with your other patients to minimize interruptions.

It might be very beneficial to take the computer class again so that you learn the shortcuts and can really zip through these admissions and discharges. Your nurse educator or manager will appreciate that you have the initiative to identify your own learning needs to manage your time.