Length of orientation or preceptorship for new RN grad

[funkyRN]

Just graduated RN school and started working on med-surg floor I followed another RN for 2 nights then turned loose to have 10 patients. Is this the norm or what????

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Seriously? No way!

[newnurse1986]

No way! That's crazy And you should talk to your supervisor! I'm new to my second RN job and its med surg and I think orientation is 5 weeks. My first orientation at my first job was 11

[funkyRN]

that's what I thought...CRAZY! I talked with manager this morning and she gave me a night off.

[newnurse1986]

I bet you are FREAKING!

[Katie71275]

A night off doesn't address the issue that you aren't ready for 10pts!(and that seems like a LOT of patients for an experienced nurse!) Medsurg nurses here usually have 5-6pts(sometimes 8).

I'm a new nurse as well(start Monday) and I've heard a lot of nurse managers will start you with your preceptor for a bit and then gradually you take over their patients while they oversee you. Doesn't sound very safe to get 10 pts immediately.

[VANurse2010]

Um, negative! 8-12 weeks is normal.

[tazz_rn, MSN, RN]

wow!

[aachavez]

that is really scary....I hope you get more time.

[Billy_Ruben]

I wouldn't do it. You are being set up to fail. You have to protect your license. If it came down to it, I would leave and find something else. It's not safe for you or your patients.

[hardworkinmama]

So scary! As stated above, protect yourself & your license. That doesn't sound safe for patients or you.

[gigglestarsRN]

Just graduated RN school and started working on med-surg floor I followed another RN for 2 nights then turned loose to have 10 patients. Is this the norm or what????

That doesn't sound right at all. As others have written, as a new grad I had 4 months!that included classroom time too for EKG, picc line management, chest tubes etc. us working with a preceptor and them gradually stepping back until you carried a full load on your own a few weeks.