How long is orientation for new grads on your unit?

Septemberbird71 · Jun 28, 2006

What are guidelines for nurse patient ratio on mother baby unit?

mitchsmom · Jun 28, 2006

What are guidelines for nurse patient ratio on mother baby unit?

I'm not sure what they are on my new unit (can't remember from my preceptorship... but I think it varies widely by how busy we are... probably anywhere from 1-5 couplets).

No one with feedback on LDRP (or L&D) orientation times???

BEANURSE · Jun 28, 2006

Mine will be 12wks on our LDRP. (I did my preceptorship full-time for a month there also).
I'm just curious how long orientation is for new grads on your unit?

I start in a few weeks in L&D.....I will have 4 weeks on day shift and 4 weeks on evening shift (the shift that I will be working when orientation is done)....after that 8 weeks my supervisor told me that we would sit down and determine if she and I think that I am ready or if I need a few more weeks.....So, mine will be 8 possibly 10 weeks......after orientation I will start on my shift and will have a resource person assigned to me just in case I need to ask a question but for the most part will be solo!

(I have been working on this unit for a little over a year as the unit secretary so I am familiar with the hospital and the unit)

AgentR · Jun 29, 2006

16 weeks, and I'm in my first week. We are LDR only. We have 3 weeks of classroom stuff, and then 13 weeks with a preceptor.

Mrs.S · Jun 29, 2006

2 weeks newborn nursery, 2 weeks mom/baby, 8 weeks labor. not enough for new grads if you ask me!! but it seems to have worked well for them in the past.

when I started last year at this hospital I had 18 months' postpartum/peds experience at another hospital. I did a couple fewer shifts orienting to NBN and mom/baby, enough to get a feel for hospital policies/routines etc, and a few extra shifts of labor, at my request. it worked well for me, but I can't imagine trying to learn it all fresh out of school.

rpbear · Jun 30, 2006

I just work LDR, 12 weeks or more if needed.

Pupnshnooter · Jun 30, 2006

We offer a 6 month preceptorship program. We pride ouselves in making sure our new grads are thoroughly comfortable handling patients and the computer charting before we send them out in the field.

MIA-RN1, RN · Jul 1, 2006

I started June 5, as a new grad, with a one-week generic classroom orientation and then on the floor w/ a preceptor til mid-August. Plus a once-a week NCLEX review class and a couple days w/ the Nurse Educator. So I guess its about 9 weeks or so but really, i have been there a month now and haven't done much. I got a day in L&D (I am PP) and five long days in the newborn nursery. Part of a day in Special Care nursery and half a day w/ lactation consultant (the best part so far except for L&D where I coached a teenager thru her first labor and delivery!). I've had two days only so far in couplet care.

There are rumors about needing to get 25 IV sticks but I don't see that happening anywhere on the floor. My last week of orientation I get a full patient load but its resourcing--I have another nurse to help if I need it but the idea is that I won't. I think I can extend the orientation if I need to.

Our ratios are usually 1 nurse to 4 couplets but its been scary busy lately and gone up to 1:5.

LKB82 · Jul 4, 2006

i started in a l&d unit at the end of january. my six month orientation will be coming to an end in late july. the majority of the time was spent in l&d, some of the time was spent in a classroom, and a few weeks were spent in post-partum and the newborn nursery. i am very thankful to have received such a lengthy orientation as a new grad because i don't think i would have been ready to be on my own any sooner, and i've had the opportunity to see and do a lot of unique things with a preceptor nearby.

mitchsmom · Jul 4, 2006

i started in a l&d unit at the end of january. my six month orientation will be coming to an end in late july. the majority of the time was spent in l&d, some of the time was spent in a classroom, and a few weeks were spent in post-partum and the newborn nursery. i am very thankful to have received such a lengthy orientation as a new grad because i don't think i would have been ready to be on my own any sooner, and i've had the opportunity to see and do a lot of unique things with a preceptor nearby.

that's great that you get such a long orientation! i hope i'll be ok with 12 weeks (i was there for a month in preceptorship, where they basically started me like they would for a regular job since we all knew i'd probably go there, but that was in april). if i get to work with any of the people i was in preceptorship with, i don't think anyone is going to just disappear and leave me hanging, but still.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 4, 2006

We orient new grads for MINIMUM 6 MONTHS....sometimes longer. We rarely hire new grads, but when we do it's at least that long. For experienced nurses from other areas, minimum 3 months is needed usually.

For new graduates, I have learned it's not enough to do 3 months, not nearly enough. And ever after 6 mo, they are not considered to be "on their own"...they are only scheduled with long-standing experienced RNs on their shifts for at least 2-3 years or more. I know I personally did not feel "competent" or "ready" for at least 2 years' fulltime. Labor/delivery nurses are NOT made over night---- that is for sure. Get as much time on orientation as you can possibly get them to give you, believe me, you won't be sorry.