Only 1 month of orientation !!

lpnflorida, LPN · Jan 22, 2009

It is 90 days anywhere in our system. That 90 days can be extended if needed.

bjaeram · Jan 22, 2009

Our ER only does 10 shifts for anyone new grad or not!

Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 22, 2009

6 months for new grads.

They wanted to cut me short since I'm a paramedic, but I insisted on the full opportunity to learn without pressure. There was a med-surg nurse who started with me. Her orientation may have been shorter. We all had several weeks of classroom work before we dove into the mess.

Iam46yearsold · Jan 22, 2009

Times sure have changed. My first day in ER I was shown the chart and shown the ER layout. Told to work and ask questions. At the end of the first day, they asked if I killed anyone. replied no I hadn't. That was my orientation. Times have certainly changed. I am amused by how everything changes.

Xbox Live Addict · Jan 22, 2009

"Only" a month? The only job where I spent more than a WEEK in training was my current job at a plasma center, where you have to do every task in the view of a trainer x number of times and jump through all kinds of hoops. In regular jobs, three days, tops, and you were on your own.

I_LOVE_TRAUMA, RN · Jan 22, 2009

Yep, my first ER job I was supposed to get 3 shifts, but my preceptor went into labor half way through the first shift so I was thrown to the wolves. Made me learn quick though! Things sure have changed!

gonzo1, ASN, RN · Jan 22, 2009

It may not be best practice as far as patient safety, but these days a month would be considered incredibly generous. Sad to say

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · Jan 22, 2009

at my community hospital its 6 months for new grads and 3 months otherwise. I also transfered from med/surg and was glad for all 3 of those months, even though I had days when I wanted to be off orientation cause I thought I was bored, there were always days I needed that preceptor.

I don't think I would want to start in an ER with no previous ER experience with less than 3 months personally.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2009

At my new ER job I got 6 shifts. 3 on days and 3 on nights. by 2nd shift I was basically on my own only finding my mentor if I couldnt find something or was stumbling through the computer.

My 1st job out of school in an ICU I got 4 weeks. 2 weeks on days and 2 on nights...but my orientation was more along the lines of "hollar if you need anything"

ScrappyED, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2009

I see that our new employees are very lucky! I'm in a Level 1 Trauma center and we hire one new grad each year. She/he gets a minimum of three months orientation--longer if needed. Experienced nurses who have never worked in an ER get about a month but they are never "kicked out" if they don't feel competent. Nurses who have worked other ER's get a couple of weeks unless their skills are way below par.

Boy was I scared when I was left "alone" that first day:( but I made it!

I wonder if the increasing times of orientation are due to liability costs or to high turn-over these days (or both). HHhhmmm.

Scrappy

:prdmltywf:

:prdnrs:

swirlygirl · Jan 22, 2009

When I was a new grad, I started on a med/surg floor and I was supposed to have 6 weeks of orientation, but the floor was so short-staffed, that I only had 4 weeks. I had worked on that floor as a CNA for about 8 months before I became an RN so I felt somewhat comfortable. And my preceptor gave me the choice of taking 1-2 patients to start out and adding 1 a day or just taking the entire team (about 5 pts) from the start. I chose to take the entire team so if/when I got overwhelmed, I would have someone right there with me. Some of the more senior RN's didn't like this idea, but it worked out for me!!