How much is enough orientation...?

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I'm getting very frustrated with what my director considers "enough" orientation in her departments. I graduated in January and started working for this hospital in February. When I was interviewed I was assured that orientation was about 8 weeks long but that it was individualized to the candidate. It could be extended if the individual needed more time. I was hired into the ICU with this impression. The second say here I was forced to sign a contract for 2 years. They said that my training was going to cost them $8000 and I would owe them the difference (1/24 is "forgiven" every month) if I left before the 2 years was up. I felt I had no choice as I had moved to Floirda from New Jersey and had literally NO money in my pocket to go back home. Well, as it turned out after 5 weeks I was handling patients on my own in a med/surg ICU. Not to mention that for the first 3 weeks my preceptor and I were assigned 3 patients instead of two - she barely had time to answer my questions, though it wasn't her fault. At 8 weeks, just before a JACHO visit, the educator came to me and said that I needed to have my competencies done NOW because the director said so (theoretically, I had another 4 weeks to complete them). I told them I disliked the ICU. I was offered a move to the ER - I realize now only because the ER was/is short-staffed at night and the director needed another warm body. I had assumed that I would get a proper orientation - the charge nurse figures about 1-2 months (fine). The director came by last night and told my preceptor that I should be 'good to go' in 1-2 WEEKS. I'm a brand new grad. Yes I handled patients on my own in ICU, but that was also with quite a bit of help and questions to my coworkers there. I'm feeling used and double crossed. I'm beginning to hate nursing and especially hospitals. At this point, I'm DYING to get out of my position, and possibly out of this field. Does anyone have any suggestions? ----EDIT: After reading through this, I realize it sounds like I'm whining (prolly 'cause I am). Are my expectations unrealistic, or is this another example of nursing reality not being the same as nursing expectation?

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Specializes in Medical-Oncology.

Wow! What a scam! I am not a nurse yet, but I am a reasonable human being who would not put up with that crap. Surely you can find another job in the area. Nurses are in high demand! Hmmm, the key is to get out of the contract -- well, that's what I would do. If that contract says anything about getting an orientation for xx amount of time, and they did not fulfill their terms, then you should surely be able to get out of your part of the bargain too! This place sounds scary! I am sorry that you have to deal with something so stressful when the job in itself is already stress enough! Good luck!

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Specializes in Float.

Wow only 8 weeks for ICU? I'm still a student but I've been checking out hospitals already. One has a 9 month minimum orientation. I think ICU is 12 months. The floors that have these orientation programs for new grads also have nurse educators on the floor that work with you to help you learn the focused skills for your floor.

I would definitely start checking into what various area hospitals offer for orientation. I feel for you..this is the kind of stuff that terrifies me as a future RN. One of the reasons I am looking into interning. I want to get a taste now of what a floor and hospital... try to see if I like what I see before I'm thrown in the trenches ... I wish you the best...I've been in other positions (non healthcare) where I just dreaded going into work and hated it...and life is too short for that! I'm sure you'll find a good fit out there...

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Contract or no contract, if I was that unhappy, I'd find the door and make tracks somewhere else.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.

What does your contract say regarding orientation? Does it say 8 weeks? If so, they violated the contract and it should be null and void. However, I'm no lawyer, perhaps you should get one.

I'm sorry this is happening to you. 8 weeks is not enough. I had 3 months for a Trauma step down/med-surg unit. My hospital has a 6 month+ orientation for ICU/ED. 4 weeks in ICU/ED sounds down right dangerous to me. Of course, I think 4 weeks in any specialty is dangerous for a new grad.

Good luck!

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I'm calling around to other hospitals in the area and making arrangements for interviews. Thank you for listening to me complain. I realize now that in all the excitement of graduating and landing a job I didn't really stop to think about how long it would take me to orient to the job setting. I'm from NJ and the hospitals in the area where I worked offered at least 6 months orientation in ICU/ED specialities. I think I blindly assumed that I would receive the same kind of training. I should prolly have known something was off when I was hired after a 10-minute interview with the director of the department (and interview that was held walking down a hallway to her next meeting) and never even having seen the unit I was hired for. This time, I'm going to pay attention to what they're saying and ask a whole lot more questions. (And hopefully the right questions). As for the contract, if I have to pay them to get out of it, I will...it's not worth losing my license over because I'm being pushed into situations I'm not ready for. ~~~BTW, I know I'm not the only RN at the hospital who has gone through this. They hired another nurse into the OR (with NO hospital experience, ARNP who had worked in family practice office for 3 years) and wanted her to handle the PACU by herself on the weekends after 4 weeks of training. This hospital believes in the "sink or swim" philosophy of teaching. *sigh*

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