How long is orientation for new grads on your unit?

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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?

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.

i really hope 12 weeks is enough. everyone is different, and the fact that you had a preceptorship there should be helpful. there is a lot to learn in l&d, and even with six months of orientation i still sometimes get overwhelmed when difficult or unexpected things happen, or if things just start moving too fast. i definitely feel like i still have a lot to learn! like you said before, even once orientation is over, i can't imagine that the other staff would just leave me hanging if i really needed help. although since i'm at the end of my orientation, my preceptors frequently let me go do my thing, and they watch my strip and charting from the nurse's station, and come in the room if it's apparent it's getting to be too much, too fast, or if i call them and ask them to come in. just remember that your unit is spending a lot of time and money to orient you, so they should be willing to work with you to insure your success. although it's scary and frustrating at times i know that the other nurses on the unit are doing everything possible to make sure that i am have a productive orientation because ultimately, they're training me, and it's only to their benefit to mold me into a competent and efficient nurse to work alongside of them. good luck with your orientation, ask lots of questions, and don't be afraid to tell your unit if you're not getting everything that you need to have a well-rounded orientation.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

GOOD and sage advice, LKB82!

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Specializes in OB, lactation.

I guess I'll have to hope for the best. I'm not afraid to ask questions, that's for sure. I even already have made categories for cheat/reminder sheets that I want to make for myself.

Like I said, if I'm with the people I precepted with, I know they'll be there to help me if they can. It's not a real big unit so someone is usually close by. I will definitely be asking if I can extend if (when) needed but I'm pretty much signed on at this point, plus there is really no where else for me to go work anyway (if I want L&D, which I do- we live in a small town and the next closest place would be a commute 1.5hrs minimum one way... I just commuted 2hrs+ for 3 years of school so there is no way I'm going to commute again any time soon; plus it probably wouldn't be days and probably wouldn't be LDRP which I want).

Luckily I will be on day shift and there are always experienced coworkers there (and anesthesia thank goodness b/c we don't have night coverage). For my first month I'm scheduled with the charge nurse who is very experienced and good & the other preceptors are good too.

It's an LDRP so we do all that, but we don't have many really high risk/preemie births unless it's a surprise walk-in b/c they get shipped out. We also don't have to circulate c/s so I don't have to learn that (we go down as baby nurse & bring baby back to room; mom recovers in PACU with regular PACU nurse). I was fairly comfortable with normal/healthy pp after preceptorship too (anything out of the ordinary is another story of course). So hopefully that helps a little tiny bit???

Even though it's an LDRP, in our unit, if you are a labor nurse you will usually have a labor pt unless it's really slow because we are usually needing labor nurses (we have a couple of LPN's for some of the pp pts). Usually 1:1 for labor pts, sometimes maybe 1:2 (although in preceptorship I only saw 1:2 for labor/pp or pp/pp & I never saw 1:3 with a labor pt).

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Oh my, you must trust me: the learning curve in an LDRP is VERY steep....because you do it "all". And you will get 28 weekers who deliver in the ED toilets, or 30 weekers on meth who show up at your door. It's not always low risk people who show up, as you know.

Now I know, You will make it, but believe me, you will wish you had more than 12 weeks to "get it". Good luck my friend. I have complete faith in your abilities and drive. Just keep asking questions and be a sponge. And if you don't feel ready after 12 weeks, TELL THEM SO!

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Specializes in Nurse Manager, Labor and Delivery.

Oh my gosh....all of these posts sound so wonderful, I wish I lived where you did. Many moons ago, when I oriented to the wonderful world of women's health ( I wasn't a new grad) I got 2 weeks of nursery and 2 weeks of L&D orientation. That was it! Now..it is a bit better, but not by much in my opinion. The new grads now get 16 weeks, but that is split between mom/baby and LDRP. They can always get more if needed. I like the 6 month deal myself.

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Specializes in OB, lactation.
oh my, you must trust me: the learning curve in an ldrp is very steep....because you do it "all". and you will get 28 weekers who deliver in the ed toilets, or 30 weekers on meth who show up at your door. it's not always low risk people who show up, as you know.

now i know, you will make it, but believe me, you will wish you had more than 12 weeks to "get it". good luck my friend. i have complete faith in your abilities and drive. just keep asking questions and be a sponge. and if you don't feel ready after 12 weeks, tell them so!

thanks & i definitely believe you re: the learning curve!

in some ways our unit, while we don't routinely get really high risk pts, is scarier for the same reason b/c we don't have a nicu or anything. i heard that they delivered a 29 wker and a 30 wker both in one day a couple of weeks ago :eek:

i'm sure i'll be asking lots of questions both there and here so 'yall get ready! lol :) next week is the general orientation then the next week i'm on.

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I'm a new grad in L&D and I'm doing a 9 week orientation. I precepted on the unit for about 4-5 months while I was finishing my BSN. 6 weeks of my orientation are on L&D, 1 week on Antepartum, 1 week Circulating in the OR and 1 week Scrubbing in the OR. I will be done in 2 weeks. I'm super excited and very nervous. It really seems like things can go south FAST in L&D! I totally love it! I'm a born L&D junkie!

I STILL can't believe that this is my JOB!! I'm in love!

Amy

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I started as a new grad into the birth center (we hire alot of new grads) and got a full year of orientation. By about six months most new grads feel very comfortable in most situations, but for staffing purposes, the orienting nurse does not count. Nurses with OB experience get about 6 weeks, more if they feel they need it.

I have to admit a full year seemed like a long time on orientation, but I felt very comfortable when it was done. It gave me a chance to see alot of things that don't happen with us all that often. We are a smaller hospital so don't get alot of stuff in a short period of time to expose the orientee to.

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Specializes in OB, lactation.
I started as a new grad into the birth center (we hire alot of new grads) and got a full year of orientation.

That is awesome!!

I am in general orientation this week and it is soooo boring, I wish I was on the floor.

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Any recommendations for L&D training programs for a recent graduate in Florida or Eastern PA?

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