how long was your orientation if you were experienced in that field of nursing?

[HappyNurse2005]

Say, for ex, that you worked Labor and Delivery at one hospital. Then, you work at another hospital in Labor and Delivery.... how long was your orientation? i mean, you know your stuff, but the hospital routines, computers, way they do things, etc are different ?

[klone, MSN, RN]

Also, for a few months I worked for "regional float pool" for a large hospital network that had 6ish hospitals in the area. Each orientation to a new hospital was four hours, then you were on your own.

[Blackcat99]

I had previous LTC experience. I went to a LTC many years ago. I was told that I would receive a 1 day-8 hour orientation with the present nurse. That nurse spent less than 30 minutes with me. She then gave me the med keys and told me "The only way you will learn to do this job is if you actually do the job yourself". She then walked away and that was the end of my orientation.

[Diva7332]

I've been in L&D since '06 and travelling since '07; I have just accepted a staff position in L&D. Apparently my orientation is 14-16 weeks (!!) The manager said it could possibly be dropped down to 12 weeks, but shoot, this seems like major overkill. The unit doesn't seem to be overly specialized or different from those I have worked in before.

I think it will be a little annoying having someone over my shoulder for that long!

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Anywhere from 2 days (adolescent psych experience to alcohol/drug rehab....about 5 years between the two) to 4 LONG weeks with pediatrics (had taken care of pedi patients on med-surg floors in a smaller hospital, and been a nurse for 17 years- it was overkill- but my preceptor was great, and basically turned me loose, knowing I knew enough to know when I needed to ask a question :)).