Length of er orientation?

the orientation i am doing is 6 months, 1 week critical care floor, the rest is classroom/ER

We orient our new grads for six months. There is a mix of classroom and floating to other floors, either ICU or PCU, and a medic ride-along and a few shifts in the peds ER. Six weeks is not enough time for a new grad to orient for anywhere.

6 months where I am.

6 weeks? OMG, I hope you have at least some experience as a tech, CNA, or student nurse elsewhere in the hospital. Over the last 10 years or so, specialty areas have been shortening their orientations due to the severity of the nursing shortage. As well, new grads. have been accepted into areas traditionally reserved for experienced nurses.

Please be careful and ask yourself why this ER is only giving you 6 weeks. Are they that desperate for staff and if so, do you want to risk your license?

Your first year of nursing will be your hardest year of your career. This is when you truly learn what nursing is all about and the added stress of a specialized area, without proper orientation, will only compound your worries.

At my place, new graduates are hired but only if they've been working in the department as an EMT or tech. Then, they're given a minimum of 3 months with a preceptor. After that, further buddy time is negotiable.

These responses seem right on!

I would not think that less than 12 weeks... And at that point, no shame in extending for another 3 weeks.

Is this a 100,000 patients plus per year ER, or smaller?

Its a level 2 and they see about 75,000 per yr. I have no prior hospital experience and have only worked in a ltc for a few years which is as far opposite you can get from er! I am apprehensive because Ive been reading 6 months everywhere is ideal but it's been quite some time since ive graduated and jobs are VERY scarce in NY right now so I feel lucky to have been offered the position. I accepted the job offer today. Though im ridiculously nervous im so excited !!

Cingrats.

Plenty of fun to follow...

Ian

I just attended a 2 day preceptor seminar and found out that our local hospital orients new grads for one year, and their retention at the end of that year has been 100%. I'm not sure how long they would orient RNs who are not new grads. You should not be afraid to advocate for yourself if you find yourself needing more time - I've heard many places will consider this. Good luck.

So being a new grad RN with no hospital experience (3 years EMT)- three months orientation is enough? I'm getting nervous now...

Its a level 2 and they see about 75,000 per yr. I have no prior hospital experience and have only worked in a ltc for a few years which is as far opposite you can get from er! I am apprehensive because Ive been reading 6 months everywhere is ideal but it's been quite some time since ive graduated and jobs are VERY scarce in NY right now so I feel lucky to have been offered the position. I accepted the job offer today. Though im ridiculously nervous im so excited !!

congratulations. Be prepared to jot things down, ask questions (at appropriate times, not smack dab in the middle of a trauma), read up, take classes that provide more info (TNCC, PALS, ACLS).... if you feel you need more in a certain area, voice that. Ask for more trauma, more CPR's, more code AMI's, whatever you feel you want more experience in. That's a huge jump from LTC to ER. Keep your mind open, your mouth shut, and try to smile - you'll have some nurses who will be on you from the moment you start, that's the nature of the beats, unfortunately. Be confident - ask their advice if they seem to be nit picky, as that can bring a strong nurse down a notch. They could be your best ally in a bad situation. Good luck!