New Grad Hospital Preceptor/Training/Orientation Question

StrwbryblndRN · Oct 26, 2009

I wanted the same but was told that would not be in my best interest for my career and staffing is not appropriate for orientation at night.

During the day you meet the docs, PT, OT. The ability to have a greater resource and see everything in action and how it relates to your pt etc.

After 2.5 years I still do not know the docs and forget administration.(I work weekends) I do not see my manager either.

The overall hospital "experience" needs to be tangible for new grads. Night time does not allow for it.

wooh, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2009

Depending on where you work, you'll more than likely have to do part of your orientation on days. But they'll usually let you go to nights "early" if you really want to.

kk637 · Oct 26, 2009

I'm a new grad that just recently got done with my 12 week orientation. i had to work days during my whole orientation... not to mention have to switch to saturdays as well when my preceptor changed her schedule. i didn't get any weekend pay differential either. it was straight base pay during orientation. then the last 2 weeks of my orientation i went to orient at night because that was originally my permanent schedule was to work the night shift. could be different elsewere but that's basically how things happened for me. I'm so glad to be off orientation and getting my differentials.. it's going to make a big difference on my paychecks that's for sure!

tgattis · Oct 26, 2009

There is a lot that goes on during the day that you may never see at night. Your facility probably wants you to get the best orientation possible by allowing you to get the most experience possible. In order to get all your competencies done you need this experience. Examples of things that go on during the day: more IV's are started, more meds are given, more dressings are done, more patients are admitted, more procedures are done. This is why a lot of nursing schools recommend that new nurses work on a med/surg type unit. You will get a more overall sense of what is out there and what will be expected of you. Also, working during the day you will learn more about the doctors that work with your facility. A lot of the time at night you have to deal with doctors that are on call for the primary physician, so it is good to know what each physician expects of you.

All these things I mentioned are examples of why I have worked at night now for 7 years. Night are sometimes and I emphasize sometimes, less busy. But, I did not go to nights until I had been a nurse for 7 years. Working at night is also harder on your body. It should not be entered into lightly. If you have children, as you mentioned, this is not going to be easy. Either you won't see your kids cause you are sleeping when they are awake and vice versa; or you won't get enough sleep yourself. :yawn:

Also, you have less resources available to you. There are generally less people around, which can be good unless you get into a jam. There is no anesthesia personnel around to start that impossible IV, there are no case managers to answer the families questions about which nursing home mother should go to.

Enjoy your day shift orientation while it lasts. Get all the experience you can. And do not let them take you off orientation before you feel you are ready.

pinkiepie_RN · Oct 26, 2009

I walked into the job knowing that I wanted to do nights so I did 2 weeks of in class hospital/computer orientation, 1 week of day orientation, and 9 weeks of orientation on night shift with my preceptor. My NM asked me if I was sure I didn't want more time on days and I was certain at the time, after my week of running around like a chicken with my head cut off that I could wait to learn things on days. I picked up a day shift a few weeks ago and ran with it, but I'll keep my nights thankyouverymuch.

Sure nights aren't always as busy as days, but I've been off of orientation for a month now and ran charge last week with 4 admissions between 0400 and 0630.