How many days is a usual orientation?

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I start my first job in a LTC facility on Monday. I am a new nurse graduate. I was wondering is the orientation just a week for most facilities. I will orient between three units for five days, then I will be on a med cart by myself. Is this the normal amount of time facilities give new graduates? Any feedback will be appreciated.

Specializes in Acute Med, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.

wow i'm envious of all these people who get 12 weeks of preceptorship. i got 5 days in the classroom, 3 day shifts, and 2 night shifts for my orientation.

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Daytonite et. al. to the rescue!

Whoo boy. Check out my post in the LTC section "new grad considering LTC". There's a lot of info there about the responsibilities of an RN in LTC. It was an eye-opener for me.

The standard for new grads starting in the hospital, in my experience, is a 12 week orientation w/preceptor and mentor (someone from education department) support. Longer orientation in EDs and ICU's (up to 6 months).

How are LTC facilities going to attract and retain RNs (or LPNs, for that matter) without proper orientation?

Soon to graduate do you get paid on the orientation? will it be a different rate till you are done? kindly advice thanks

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Soon to graduate do you get paid on the orientation? will it be a different rate till you are done? kindly advice thanks
Yes, you get paid at your full rate of pay while on orientation. The designation between "orientation" and being a regular staff member is usually one for the accounting people. When you are on orientation you are being educated to the policies and procedures of a facility.
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Specializes in Geriatrics/Alzheimer's.

The LTC I worked as a LPN for two years gave me a three week orientation. It was a great place to work and everyone who worked there had a long work history there. Turnover was rare. When it closed it's doors in August, I got the current job I have now. I was put in charge of my unit that day. Zero orientation.

I'm in an assisted living and memory care facility, I have worked there for one year now, but it has been very unorganized and stressful working there. Guess what I put in my two weeks notice, and I'm out of there as of

June 22. I had done that before and asked me to stay several more weeks, I did. Big mistake. Now I can hardly wait to get outta there. The turnover is constant at this facility and never ending.

No matter how new you are as a nurse of whether you have 20 years of experience, everyone needs a good sound orientation in all facilities. It's unfair to the new nurse, and our patients. Very dangerous too.

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Specializes in Geriatric and now peds!!!!.

I too am a new LPN working in a LTC facility. Our orientation is 6 weeks long. I am going into week 4. I have had really great preceptors who have taught me lots of tips that you dont learn in school. I wouldnt work in a place that didnt have at least a few weeks of orientation.

Wendy

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Hi,

I am sorry but a new grad needs alot of orientation these days. A new grad is just as liable as her preceptor. I am being oriented as a new grad on a critical care floor and I am getting 12 weeks of orientation which include 4 weeks of class plus an extra 6 weeks. I still don't think it's enough but I am getting stronger and learning pretty well. What I just described is also given to nurses that were on another floor but not critical care or er. Six months should be the golden rule for new grads as I have found out that nursing school just equips you with the bare minimum. I would not take less than 12 weeks anywhere in any specialty. I honestly don't care about hospitals or LTC budgets because if they have to go to agency and spend the extra money they will so why not take that money and train/invest in someone.

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Specializes in Acute, subacute and Geriatric.

I think that your orientation sounds fair. You will be uneasy for a while but that is not necessarily bad as you will be more careful. Your routine will come gradually. I recently started a new job. I had 4 orientation shifts, two evenings and two days.

There are two floors and a possibility of 10 routines depending on my assignment for the day.

I am not new to LTC, however memorizing names and routines is always a challenge and then there is the challenge of the grumpy staff gossip grapevine that you try your best to avoid.

As said before in some of the other topics, be a sponge and listen. Ask questions about work related topics and if time permits write it down.

all the best.......

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Wow, I think WEEKS of orientation in LTC would be paradise!! I just started a job in LTC and got 8 hours on thursday and started my weekend 12-hour shifts the following saturday.

As a new nurse, I had a 'preceptor' (if you can call her that) until I took boards and received my license.

But only a couple days tops has been my experience.

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Specializes in Tele/ICU/MedSurg/Peds/SubAcute/LTC/Alz.

I was had three days of classroom orientation. Then I had a nurse orient me for the next 12 weeks, on the same unit. Even though I had a cart I still had them around to help me if needed. If you felt you need more then I could of asked for more, but I was ready and it worked out well.

Because I have only been as a RN for three months I am still learning on the job. They started moving me to other units a few weeks ago. Then, I was Nurse Unit Manager one morning. So I feel I am doing really well.

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