How long was/is your orientation?

Nurses New Nurse

Published

I am wondering how long orientation was/is for most people. I am a new grad in ER and its 3 months long, not including the volumes of classes they are sending me to. Does this sound about right?

Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

I received 8 weeks on a surgical floor. This was five years ago...the same new grad would receive 12 weeks now.

Specialized areas like OR, ED, ICU...they receive 6 months. There is also a MedSurg internship that is four months long. I think that is overkill but it's a neat concept - the new grads orient on three or four different floors and also are able to take a bunch of classes, have a day with the IV nurse, that kind of thing. There just wasn't time to fit all of that in on my orientation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro ICU.

Wow 6 months at some places, thats crazy!

Im in a neuro ICU on week 9 of 12 & they say I'm doing well & they think I'm ready to come off orientation, but the general consensus from the more experienced nurses is to take all 12 even if I'm "safe" at this point, just to have more time to learn the disease processes, treatments, etc. :)

Plus I had about 120 of online critical care learning to do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

18-20 Weeks - General Floors

20-22 Weeks - Intermediate Units

26 Weeks - ICU

The first 16 weeks are full of classes that are about 8hrs a week. Plus clinical rotations throughout the hospital with the Code team, respiratory, etc.

Solid Program I think!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment