Length of the typical orientation...

[Nola009]

....New grads in mind. Some of us were given 2-3 days (in a LTC setting) while others somehow get a few weeks. How much is normal? How much is fair? I'm kind of annoyed because I have just spend 4 days painstakingly orienting this new grad BSN who ever so causally stated that she's dropping this job asap if she gets hired at the hospital. She has gotten several other days with other staff members, too. It's gonna take like a month of our time.

[RN403, BSN, RN]

Yikes. That probably wasn't the best thing for that individual to say.

I have heard that around 8 weeks is usually the fair amount of time for a new grad to be oriented - hospital setting - so not too sure about LTC.

From what I have read in other threads it would seem that in the LTC setting a shorter orientation (3-4 days) seems standard/typical.

Of course, the specifics will vary from facility to facility and setting to setting.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I received 8 weeks of orientation, and I had one year experience; same for new grads.

[Nola009]

It just makes me mad because #1, she gets an extensive orientation for our facility and #2, by the time she finally makes it through orientation, she will probably drop us. Then we have to start all over again. I got 3 days of orientation at this place. Another newer grad got only two.

[marvelmom]

I received 6 days over a 2 week timeframe as a new grad for training and I wish I could have gotten another day or two in. I work in a long term care. It's not fair to spend all that time orienting a new employee for them to quit the first chance they get though. ? I would be irritated too.

[javadown2, BSN]

Hi, I'm starting my first ever RN job this week and they have 8 weeks of training, so it must be the norm for hospitals.

Seems like that is par for the course at LTC facilities..a stopping point for gaining experience, most of the time staff is overworked also. (all this I have seen from experience I've had). The results are high turn over rates and not so good care for the elderly, it's sad.

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

Mine was 12 weeks at a hospital. It's pretty much the same amount in all the hospitals in my city. New grad programs are huge here, we even have year long residencies.

[anon456, BSN, RN]

That nurse that you are orienting needs to keep their mouth shut! Not a great way to build trust and relationships on the unit!

I was oriented for three months but it was a higher acuity area and I was lucky to be accepted into a new grad program. The first couple of weeks were all classroom learning.

[SquishyRN, BSN, RN]

3 days (1 day general orientation, and 2 shifts floor) - LTC... at 3 different SNFs... even as a new grad.

2 weeks (1 day general orientation, 1 day nursing orientation, and 6 shifts floor) - LTACH... as an experienced LVN.

1 month (No general orientation, since I already worked there, and 12 shifts floor) - LTACH... since I was a new grad RN they gave me longer than the traditional 6 shifts they give new employees. They don't hire new grads outside of internal applicants.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I haven't worked LTC, but I've worked on the rehab floor of a SNF; I got 1 day general orientation (the same one that ALL new hires go to--not just nurses) and 5 days on the floor. I wasn't a new grad, but the new grads got the same.

I also was given 5 shifts in an LTACH...now that was scary!!! Well, 5 shifts on the floor plus a day shadowing the WOCN, and one shadowing the RT. But I thought 5 shifts in LTACH is ridiculous. Those pts were bad sick, to the point that ALL nurses there were required to be ACLS certified within six months. They didn't have anything special for new grads...come to think of it though, I don't think they hired new grads.

My first job as a new grad gave me 6 weeks (I think?) floor orientation, plus a bunch of new grad classes. New grads hired into one of the ICUs were oriented on one of the floors and worked a while before setting foot into their ICU.

My current job I'm not sure about, since my unit doesn't generally hire new grads.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

And I would be extremely irritated if my preceptee made those intentions clear while I was adjusting my day to accommodate her learning.

[Nola009]

I was irritated with her comment about her intentions. Before that I was encouraging her, because I know how it feels to be new and even if she gets double or 3x the amount of orientation new grads usually get, it still isn't very much. But after she said that a couple of times, I told her that her friend (she only lasted a few months), a new grad LPN, got 2 days of orientation for the same exact position. I will still be kind towards her, but clearly our HR department needs to start at least asking people what their intentions are when they interview.