How long is a typical LTC orientation?

KarynicaRN · Sep 8, 2020

My orientation in LTC lasted about 3 shifts and then I was expected to get out there on the floor on my own. The hardest part for me was learning the names of all the residents. I worked the night shift and did a 6 pm, 8 pm and then 5 am med pass. Once you learn the residents' names and medications, it will be easier, especially if you are assigned the same halls.

I first trained with a nurse on a hall and then the next shift I worked, I was placed with a different nurse. It gives you a different perspective from each nurse you work with concerning the job. I was also first trained on the day shift because it is considered the busiest of the two shifts. Day nurses see so many different things from the night nurses. Both shifts have their own uniqueness about them.

Always tell your supervisor if you feel you haven't been trained enough.

I hope this helps and good luck! :)

lumbarpain56 · Sep 10, 2020

My orientation was about 3 days....in most of the nursing homes I worked in over the 35 years I have been working as a LTC RN...it was very tough. But you do get through it. I priortized my patients and always wanted a good report which was very hard to find in my time. Very frustrating due to the high turnover of Nurses and other staff.. I made sure I ran through the patients charts briefly as soon as I got in.......and researching their historys, labs, complaints, family questions,new orders, etc...which actually took time but it kept me very up to date on the Ifs , ands or buts if someone to ask me what was going on at the time with my patients.I found this method to be very efficient and helpful, but it takes time at the start of your shift....my nurse manager always wondered why I did this..but when I was asked any questions about my patient...I had the answer and wasnt standing there holding my keesta..........although there were surprises along the way which is understandable...nursing notesI found to be useless...many times I have found that the patient was complaining during the day and not one sentence was written about it..so its imperative you get to KNOW your patients when you have a few minutes too between going crazy..

through my years....I have found out if you learn to know who your repetitive bell ringers are and the chronic complainers..and get them out of the way first or know what they needed before hand...it frees up alot of running time and unnecessary stress...develop a strategy for yourself and what is most effective and easier for you. You NEED that energy and you have to make sure you don't burn yourself out. Knowing patients who tend to be very independent and have fall precautions are a biggee too...because lifting them can hurt you for a long time if they arent watched and preached to excessively. Good luck and I hope I helped you in same form or fashion!!

Queen Tiye, RN · Sep 13, 2020

My LTC training was three days of learning how to chart, passing meds, and doing treatments. LTC can be very rewarding because of the patients. Smart, kind coworkers are always a plus. I had to review a lot on how to manage different diagnoses and what I should be looking for, what the labs indicated, etc. Figure out how to follow up on labs in a timely fashion. Identify a knowledgeable person or two that you can go to for clinical advice.

Purple_Clover · Sep 20, 2020

Depends on the facility. My first LTC orientation after starting in psych for a year was 2 weeks. I moved to Oregon and they oriented me for an entire month. Then, I moved back to my old facility and got exactly zero orientation even though it was (technically) a different company with different policies.

Lynker, LPN · Sep 27, 2020

My LTC orientation was a bit over 12 weeks long. I stick out like a sore thumb, but my job had me train on every shift for about a month before I started my full time position, which was overnights.

Dani_Mila, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2020

I was lucky enough to get a 6 weeks orientation. 4 weeks during days and 2 weeks during nights. I worked in the rehab, short term, and long term unit.

amoLucia · Nov 26, 2020

So sad about those short 3 day-orientations! They should be ILLEGAL in my opinion! Esp for newbie nurses - just bespeaks to me of how much concern the facility has for safe environment for its residents and its new staff.

But playing the devil's advocate on behalf of LTC, they don't unlimited resources for prolonged orientations to teach new nurses what was short-changed in nsg school. They usually try to do the best they can with what they have.

To have a facility offer an orientation of 2 to 4 weeks would be ideal. WITH an option to extend it a LITTLE bit longer. You can ask, but be reasonable. You will learn things along the way! And it's not written ANYWHERE that you need to know all the pts' names right away! It's NOT a contest like Jeopardy to name all the 50 states or all 60 pts in 1 week! That's why there are ID bracelets and pix in the med book! Ask questions.

For orientation, get in as many med passes as you can as that might be the bulk of your responsibilities. Assist with the more detailed treatments, esp wound vacs if poss. Observe & do GT feedings. Colostomy care. Suctioning.

ASSIST WITH AN ADMISSION, TRANSFER OUT, INCIDENT, EXPIRATION and all the PAPERWORK.

Learn every little detail about your Emergency cart. No time to fumble when you've a crisis.

Most critical --- take NO shortcuts re NARCOTIC COUNT. S T O P if you don't feel right about it!

Orientation time is the time you'll need to become familiar with what you'll need to do. If you're to be a med nurse, then med pass is your priority. If you're to be on the desk, different protocols become the priority with all the required documentation. And then there's the computer. Focus on the important stuff, not the fluff at this time.

Good luck to you.

TheDudeWithTheBigDog, ADN, RN · Dec 8, 2020

On 11/26/2020 at 4:27 PM, amoLucia said:

If you're to be a med nurse, then med pass is your priority. If you're to be on the desk, different protocols become the priority with all the required documentation. And then there's the computer. Focus on the important stuff, not the fluff at this time.

If you're an RN, when #@$%@#$!@ hits the fan, ALL OF THAT was your responsibility, that shift and every shift. The fluff is your job and your responsiblity. There is no such thing as a "med nurse" when it comes to who the blame gets dropped on. The treatment didn't get done by the treatment and now that patient has an infection? Are you saying that he wasn't your patient that you were responsible for?