Length of Preceptor & patient ratio

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We are trying to improve our preceptor program and are seeking advice from the general nursing population for help.

1. How long does your facility preceptor new grads?

2. How long does your facility preceptor experienced nurses who are just new to your facility?

3. How long do you preceptor LVNs who have worked at your facility, but who are new RN grads?

4. During the preceptor period, do your new staff have their own patient load? if so, does the preceptor have their own patient load also? If yes, what is their nurse to patient ratio?

5. What is the average nurse to patient ratio for the new nurse?

6. Does the preceptor have only 1 new nurse, or can they work with multiple new nurses at a time?

Thank you for taking the time to answer.

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My orientation as a new grad was pretty bad, but I'll answer anyway. As a matter of fact, this facility (I no longer work there) has not been able to admit patients for about 2 weeks now and are being fined $3500 a day by the state. One of the many requirements to reopen is to change the orientation for nurses.

1. I worked with another nurse for about 6 12 hour shifts and 1 8 hour.

2. Experienced nurses were precepted the same length, some times shorter.

3. There was no preceptor for LPN-RN, they assumed their regular roles.

4. In the first few days, we shared the load of 12 patients. The next week, we split them and had 12 a piece.

5. After my orientation with the preceptor, I had the same load as other nurses, 12 patients.

6. Preceptors only had 1 nurse at a time.

I should point out that this was in the rehab unit of a LTC facility. I didn't have a set preceptor, I actually had 3. I was assigned to work one hallway, so I oriented on that hallway only with whatever float nurse was working. All 3 had been there for 3+ years as nurses and some longer as techs, so they knew the floor pretty well. What helped me most that one of the preceptors did was give me a cheat sheet. It helped SO MUCH. It had the steps to complete and admission, discharge, enter new orders, etc. I don't know what I would have done without it.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.

I work on a transtional trauma unit with 4 low level CC beds & 28 med/surg beds.

Preceptorship is 12 weeks or longer prn.

Start out w/1 pt and have 6 by end. Last 2 weeks are spent on shift (usually nights) they' going to.

The preceptor has only 1 orientee (as it should be). We've also recently added an additional staff member to cover the preceptors so they have no pts. at all. For example, orientee has 4 pts, that leaves 2 for the preceptor. Now the extra nurse will take those pts so preceptor isn't pulled away by her other pts.

Can't answer your other questions, sure someone else will.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.
My orientation as a new grad was pretty bad, but I'll answer anyway. As a matter of fact, this facility (I no longer work there) has not been able to admit patients for about 2 weeks now and are being fined $3500 a day by the state. One of the many requirements to reopen is to change the orientation for nurses.

1. I worked with another nurse for about 6 12 hour shifts and 1 8 hour.

2. Experienced nurses were precepted the same length, some times shorter.

3. There was no preceptor for LPN-RN, they assumed their regular roles.

4. In the first few days, we shared the load of 12 patients. The next week, we split them and had 12 a piece.

5. After my orientation with the preceptor, I had the same load as other nurses, 12 patients.

6. Preceptors only had 1 nurse at a time.

I should point out that this was in the rehab unit of a LTC facility. I didn't have a set preceptor, I actually had 3. I was assigned to work one hallway, so I oriented on that hallway only with whatever float nurse was working. All 3 had been there for 3+ years as nurses and some longer as techs, so they knew the floor pretty well. What helped me most that one of the preceptors did was give me a cheat sheet. It helped SO MUCH. It had the steps to complete and admission, discharge, enter new orders, etc. I don't know what I would have done without it.

I've never worked rehab, but that sounds just horrible. Glad you found a better place in this world!

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I have been a preceptor for several years.Our orientation runs about 8-10 weeks with 2 of those weeks in the classroom.We extend a R.N orientation if we feel she is not ready to be on her own.Our pt load is 4-5 pts and I usually start my orientee with 1-2 pts.depending on their experience.Once they are on their own we limit their pt load to 4 pts only for about 2-3 weeks and then if they are comfortable with getting an admit we give them one later in the shift.Usually the majority of time is on the day shift with 2-3 weeks on their assigned shift.We do try to keep them with one preceptor/shift.

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Quick question: The 1-2 patients for the orientee, is that 1-2 in addition to the 4-5 that you have, or is it 1-2 of your personal patient load?

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.

On our unit it is 1-2 of my patient load. With the "orientation champions, the OC will even take all or part of the patient load.

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