How long for an L&D orientation?

kakamegamama · May 12, 2008

Meet often w/your preceptor & manager to track your progress. If at any point you feel you need to stay in one area a little longer, express that & perhaps even insist upon it. You'll do fine. Don't expect yourself to function above a novice, because that is what you are. Use your resources wisely--videos, preceptor, hands on, however you can suppliment your learning. Best of luck to you & enjoy!

rnmom2boys · May 12, 2008

I feel your pain! I was supposed to have 12 weeks orientation and was given a patient on my own only 9 weeks into it. Then, once I was officially off of orientation, I was never given a mentor to use as a resource. Could you suggest to your manager that an experienced RN should be assigned to you each shift - maybe for the next year - that you can use as your mentor? You could go to that person as questions arise, review your plan of care and charting, etc.? Just make sure you document - document- document!!! If you ask someone a question, include it in your documentation - "reviewed with Joe Blow RN" - that way they can't deny that they never reviewed it with you! Believe me, you will use it in the future because I've had a charge nurse deny they were aware of a situation. Protect yourself.

bt-jrsygrl · May 12, 2008

WOW... WEEKS!?!?!?! I am a new grad (almost 1 yr ago) and am an L & D nurse. My orientation with a preceptor was 7 months. Now mind you I was given more and more rope as my skills increased but I still had my "guardian angel" with me each day. I am now on my own and we all still compare judgements on strips , decels etc etc etc. I have found L and D is not a learn and done job but an always changing area with lots to learn that only comes with experience. I wish you all the luck in the world. I love it but I will consider myself a beginner for many months to come.

jodyangel, RN · May 12, 2008

I'm about to finish my 12 week orientation. Am I ready? Well no but I do think I will learn some by having to sort things out myself. BUT I intend to find someone I'm working with each shift to bounce my thoughts off of. I'm told I won't feel comfortable until at least a year. So I don't expect to feel secure. I will ask ask ask!!! And yes document.

bt-jrsygrl · May 12, 2008

I'm about to finish my 12 week orientation. Am I ready? Well no but I do think I will learn some by having to sort things out myself. BUT I intend to find someone I'm working with each shift to bounce my thoughts off of. I'm told I won't feel comfortable until at least a year. So I don't expect to feel secure. I will ask ask ask!!! And yes document.

That's exactly what I do. Most of our nurses are more than ready and willing to help. I think the best nurses are the ones that say I do not know it all. (safer too) Good luck to us both :-)

GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN · May 12, 2008

New grad orientation at my lg teaching hospital is 6 months for L & D

jodyangel, RN · May 13, 2008

Well after my First meconium vag birth last night; I decided another week would really be beneficial to me. So I am popping an email off to the person who oversee's the new orientee's. At first I thought it might not be looked so favorably on, but I asked and was told lots of new nurses ask for some more time on orientation. They have had me here and there and everywhere for a few weeks, and I just think another week of Just doing L&D would really help me with my skills at handling things on my own, but with someone very nearby. I want to be as Safe as I can on the job. So hopefully they won't see it as a flaw...

KT-Jay731 · May 15, 2008

I feel very fortunate that I've been told my orientation will be around 6 months in length, I can't imagine being "set free" after a few weeks!!!

Good luck!

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · May 15, 2008

I've been on 4 interviews now with 4 different facilities and their L&D departments all have an min. orientation time of 6-9 months. PP/WBN has averaged around 12 weeks.

The facility I am seriously considering will have me on orientation for a total of 12 months. 3 months PP/WBN and 9 months L&D.

Calzonan RN · May 17, 2008

A long orientation would've been wonderful. I was given 12 weeks and at the end of it was told that I should be able to handle two high risk patients and any emergencies that come up, on my own. I've been doing my own deliveries for about the past 3-4 weeks, all the charting, pushing with the pt etc., but at my hospital they want you to be at a point (after 12 weeks orientation, as a new grad) to handle anything. They basically throw everything they've got at you, to see if they can make or break you. I really don't think at 12 weeks any new grad could handle any emergency that came up, without some guidance during it. Just make sure you have a supportive preceptor, who keeps in constant communication with you. If you feel you haven't had enough c-sections, try and work a couple of scheduled c-sections because in an emergency c-section you won't have time to try and figure out what you need to be doing.

Make sure the staff you're working with is supportive of new grads. A lot of the hospitals talk a good talk but you don't want to find out at the end of orientation that they didn't do what they promised. Ask other new nurses there, if you get the chance, and see what kind of support they received during their orientations.

Good luck with it, I couldn't imagine working in any other area, it's really an honor to participate in the birth of a baby.