RPN New Grads in Ontario and Orientation

[nurse2bsydnie]

Hi everyone!

It seems to me like new nurses in Canada get very short orientations compared to new grads in the U.S. unless they are fortunate enough to get an NGG job via HFO. I have even heard horror stories about new grad nurses getting only 1 or 2 days of orientation. I don't know if this is true or not, but I really hope it isn't.

For those new grads who were not fortunate enough to get a job via HFO, how long was your orientation? Did you think it was enough? Would really appreciate it if you would also include where you work (an LTC, hospital, etc.)

Thank you

[Fiona59]

I'm not in Ontario.

My orientation as a new grad was five shifts. Three day and two evenings because that was the shift pattern I was available for..

Orientation is to learn the unit's routine, not hone your skills. It's about working with a buddy nurse to learn the paperwork that is required, where the supplies are kept, the flow of the unit. By the time we graduate we have all the skills we need to function on a floor.

Dialysis and the OR have longer orientation programmes because they have definite skill sets not covered in the basic nursing education.

[GBC_Student, BSN, RN]

I think I got about 12 orientation shifts. A lot of them were night shifts so I could learn how the unit ran without being overwhelmed by patient needs.

[dayandnight]

In BC, new grad RNs get 12 orientation shifts on the floor and one day of general orientation. Lpns however get 4-5 shifts on one unit

[sdg13]

At the hospital where I'm employed, we have one week of corporate orientation, one week of interprofessional orientation, and then 4 buddy shifts with another RPN on your specific unit.

[xokw, BSN, RN]

I've received anywhere from 2 (LTC) to 8 (hospital) orientation shifts. I'm in southwestern Ontario.

[Lucydog14]

I just started a new LTC job. 3 night shifts and one day shift.

[vintage_RN, BSN, RN]

As an RPN in a surgical floor I think I had 8 buddied shifts. In the NICU I had 1 month preceptored with more stable patients before I was on my own.