How long is your orientation??

Nurses New Nurse

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Just curious -- how long what is the average length of orientation for new grads - based on my experience and friends etc its generally 6 - 8 weeks.

Does this match up with all of you?

Specializes in Rural Health.

Tele/Step down/Medical Cardiac. We get 1 month of classroom mixed in with some floor orientation, lots of P&P reading, computer classes to take, etc.....Then we get 8-10 weeks, more if needed only I think that's kind of a loaded gun there.......We are assessed every 4 weeks throughout our entire 1st year (takes 15-20 mins) by the education staff to make sure the facility is meeting our needs as a new nurse as well as us meeting the needs of the facility. We have new grad forums every other month where we get breakfast, a nurse educator and a chance to blow off steam and those are available the first year. Also, once off orientation for the first 6 months you are assigned a resource person on your shift and that is who you ask questions of or get to help you with things you've never done and/or seen. Our education department is also there 24/7, so if something comes up and your resource person is not available, you can call them to come and help you out.

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Specializes in PICU, surgical post-op.

My orientation was 20 weeks. During that, all the new hires went to a class once a week for 8 weeks. The class covered a lot of the main topics and disease processes we'd be seeing in the unit. I had worked on the unit as a tech before graduating, so I was familiar with the place and a lot of the other nurses. I've been lucky to be on a unit where, as the youngest by over a year, all the other nurses have taken me under their collective wings. My original preceptor has since transferred to another unit, but I have quite a few other nurses who I'm able to go to as resources. 20 weeks was ideal for me as a new grad.

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8 weeks minimum - but clinical training period can be extended based on readiness to start. I'm in dialysis by the way.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac Medicine, Retail Health.

12 weeks I will be on a tele floor. 8 weeks, then 4 weeks protected (you carry less patients and you still work with your precept)

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Are you paid during orientation?

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Are you paid during orientation?

yes you do get paid during orientation.

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I got three days :) Then I was on my own, but the other nurses were available to help answer questions. It really wasn't as bad as it sounds, honestly.

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I got three days :) Then I was on my own, but the other nurses were available to help answer questions. It really wasn't as bad as it sounds, honestly.

Wow really 3 days??????

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Specializes in OB, lactation.

Ours is 12 wks in L&D (LDRP), with more if someone isn't deemed ready. I guess I was ok b/c I was cut loose at exactly 12 wks (I do alternating 3/4 twelve hour day weeks). There is one girl who got off orientation but wasn't doing well so she's essentially been orienting for about 6 months now... not sure what's going to happen there.

There is a lot of support still after the official orientation is up, and it's a good thing because there are still new things that I haven't done or experienced so I am always asking questions and getting help.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Oncology/Telemetry/ICU.

Till I'm competent............it might be a while! :D:D

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