Length of orientation for new nurse?

CarVsTree · Jan 12, 2006

I don't think that short-staffing should EVER be considered when deciding on an orientation schedule. Being a tech helps you do the tech aspects of nursing. Where I work, I was a tech for 1 year. My orientation is at least 6 weeks on days (didactic & clinical) and then I think nights is 2-4 weeks. I won't however, move to nights until I am ready. I'm glad I'm where I'm at because you're on orientation until you're competent to be on your own. We had one GN who was on orientation for 6 months! Don't think the :idea: will ever turn on there though :imbar But at least she's been given every opporutnity to try to make things work.

Take care!

TexasPediRN · Jan 13, 2006

If i'm reading your post correctly, you have already worked on this floor and now you will be working on the same floor as a nurse?

If so , I can understand the shorter orientation-to a point. A lot of the first week or so would probably be showing new people where things are, how to do things, etc. If you've already worked there, and worked as a nurse intern, you pretty much know how the process works on this particular floor.

You have a head start to anyone else who would be starting out on this floor completely new.

If you are not comfortable after those 4-6 weeks of orientation, do not hesitate to ask for more. It is your license on the line, and you want to be sure you are fully competent in what you are doing.

You asked how long an orientation was on a med surg floor- mine was supposed to be 12 weeks. I had already worked on this floor for over a year, and as a student nurse was doing a lot more then regular aides, to the point where I learned how to do just about everything. I would be paired up with a preceptor- but they got bored quickly. I just needed help with certain things, but I already knew the charting process, calling docs, the pyxis, etc. I was on my own after 3 weeks. BUT, that is not saying I didnt have someone there. I wasnt technically on my own, but I was. If that makes sense. If this was a floor I wasnt used to, that wouldnt have happened.

Good Luck, and enjoy your orientation!

doodle-hambone · Jan 27, 2006

I had orientation for 4-6 weeks as a new LPN grad. There was a nursing shortage that afternoon, I was asked if I could do it on my own after 3 weeks of orientation, I agreed. My patient died because of my failure to act on warning signs, my being afraid of the warning signs. I would push for as long an orientation as possible!

KatieBell · Jan 27, 2006

I think 4-6 weeks will be plenty. As a New Grad in a Neurosurgical ICU, I had 6 weeks orientation. This would be unheard of these days, but it is what we all got and we all seemed to do well.

Ask a lot of questions. If you feel you aren't getting it in about 3-4 weeks, you can ask for more time. In addition, consider asking to come in for some overtime on orientation. One thing that really helps is to be at a place day after day, but you will probably do well, simply because you already know the physicians, the other staff members, the location of things like the lab, and such. These are things that people learn in orientation, and you already know.

Best Wishes.

grinnurse, RN · Jan 28, 2006

I agree that you have half the battle licked with having been a nurse tech on the same floor so you know the personalities and your way around. With that being said, I still think that you should have at least 6 weeks of "orientation/preceptorship" simply b/c you are a new nurse and that is overwhelming in itself and as a nurse, you will have much more responsibility than a tech and you need to have the time to adjust to that role.

I went to work on M/S floor right after getting my license and I was supposed to have 6 weeks of orientation to this hospital and floor. Yes, I had done clinicals there, and yes, I had worked as a tech on the rehab floor for 2 years prior to NS and all the way through NS but that didn't change the fact that I was still a new nurse. They tried to cut it to 3 weeks and I as well as my charge nurse and various other nurses told them that I wasn't ready for that yet. I ended up getting five weeks but at that point I was ready to get on with it knowing that I could ask questions when needed.

Right now, I am orienting a new nurse, in much the same position as I expect she is only supposed to get two weeks orientation..........................:angryfire She is not ready for that. She does well, but, she's not ready to go it on her own and I am going to fight for more weeks for her. I have already talked to my NM about the fact that she is going to need more time and I presented it in the way that we need not only to orient her to the floor but also RETAIN her. If she feels that she is just being thrown to the wolves she won't stay. I think that she should at least get what I got and nothing less.

Good luck with your orientation!!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2006

It's a vote of confidence that you'll be ready, but all an act of despiration because of staffing.

If you don't feel you're ready, then speak up.

I think you are definately at an advantage because you know how things work and aren't going to need a lot of orientation on petty stuff.

The orientation for new grads, including techs who have worked here a while is 12 weeks. I work med-surg.

Corvette Guy · Jan 28, 2006

If i'm reading your post correctly, you have already worked on this floor and now you will be working on the same floor as a nurse?
If so , I can understand the shorter orientation-to a point. A lot of the first week or so would probably be showing new people where things are, how to do things, etc. If you've already worked there, and worked as a nurse intern, you pretty much know how the process works on this particular floor.
You have a head start to anyone else who would be starting out on this floor completely new.
If you are not comfortable after those 4-6 weeks of orientation, do not hesitate to ask for more. It is your license on the line, and you want to be sure you are fully competent in what you are doing.
You asked how long an orientation was on a med surg floor- mine was supposed to be 12 weeks. I had already worked on this floor for over a year, and as a student nurse was doing a lot more then regular aides, to the point where I learned how to do just about everything. I would be paired up with a preceptor- but they got bored quickly. I just needed help with certain things, but I already knew the charting process, calling docs, the pyxis, etc. I was on my own after 3 weeks. BUT, that is not saying I didnt have someone there. I wasnt technically on my own, but I was. If that makes sense. If this was a floor I wasnt used to, that wouldnt have happened.
Good Luck, and enjoy your orientation!

Pocamom - the above sounds like excellent advice. You are at an advantage in regards to knowing the staff [who is helpful, who to trust, etc.] & knowing the layout of this particular Med/Surg Floor. So, if you find your not ready for solo by the end of your orientation just let the Nurse Mgr know why, and most likely you will get an extension. I would suggest you try to be as independent as possible with your nursing care, therefore less dependent on other RNs. Nonetheless, never hesitate to ask questions, or for assistance.

Good luck!

Corvette Guy · Jan 28, 2006

I agree that you have half the battle licked with having been a nurse tech on the same floor so you know the personalities and your way around. With that being said, I still think that you should have at least 6 weeks of "orientation/preceptorship" simply b/c you are a new nurse and that is overwhelming in itself and as a nurse, you will have much more responsibility than a tech and you need to have the time to adjust to that role.
I went to work on M/S floor right after getting my license and I was supposed to have 6 weeks of orientation to this hospital and floor. Yes, I had done clinicals there, and yes, I had worked as a tech on the rehab floor for 2 years prior to NS and all the way through NS but that didn't change the fact that I was still a new nurse. They tried to cut it to 3 weeks and I as well as my charge nurse and various other nurses told them that I wasn't ready for that yet. I ended up getting five weeks but at that point I was ready to get on with it knowing that I could ask questions when needed.
Right now, I am orienting a new nurse, in much the same position as I expect she is only supposed to get two weeks orientation..........................:angryfire She is not ready for that. She does well, but, she's not ready to go it on her own and I am going to fight for more weeks for her. I have already talked to my NM about the fact that she is going to need more time and I presented it in the way that we need not only to orient her to the floor but also RETAIN her. If she feels that she is just being thrown to the wolves she won't stay. I think that she should at least get what I got and nothing less.
Good luck with your orientation!!

grinnurse - I'd bet your an excellent Preceptor! :yelclap:

The nursing profession needs more RNs like you!

Pocamom · Jan 28, 2006

Thank you all so much for your advice. I do feel comfortable on the floor and with the staff. I am on my fourth week now and it is going really well, a few weeks ago I actually had to ask my preceptor when it was that I handled the load myself because that is one of my worries. She was surprised, they are used to orientating someone new to the facility and that doesn't happen that early. The thing that suck right now is that our census is so low. We only have 4 swingbed pts (which are rehab) and no acute/unit pts. I know what to do with swingbeds, have handled them successfully thru-out my internship. It is the experience with the acute/unit pts that I so desperately want/need. I did talk to my manager and she said that I could pick up extra hours these next two weeks for more learning experiences as long as I did not go over 40 hours. So they are supporting me very well, just the census isn't.

:specs:

Corvette Guy · Jan 28, 2006

Thank you all so much for your advice. I do feel comfortable on the floor and with the staff. I am on my fourth week now and it is going really well, a few weeks ago I actually had to ask my preceptor when it was that I handled the load myself because that is one of my worries. She was surprised, they are used to orientating someone new to the facility and that doesn't happen that early. The thing that suck right now is that our census is so low. We only have 4 swingbed pts (which are rehab) and no acute/unit pts. I know what to do with swingbeds, have handled them successfully thru-out my internship. It is the experience with the acute/unit pts that I so desperately want/need. I did talk to my manager and she said that I could pick up extra hours these next two weeks for more learning experiences as long as I did not go over 40 hours. So they are supporting me very well, just the census isn't.

Pocamom - the update sounds great! As you know, nursing is all about being flexible. So, the census will pick up, then you will wish for slower days, LOL.

:)

LauraLou · Jan 28, 2006

Wow, I am really suprised that people have such short internships. Mine is 14 weeks long. I am not completely on my own until mid-April. I am working L&D/Antepartum so perhaps that is the difference, but 4-6 weeks doesn't seem very long.