How long are orientations in your hospital?

IsseyM · Oct 24, 2006

so, post your orientation length, and type of facility, how many OR's?
Mine: level 1 trauma, about 23 or's. and they would like the orientation to be 6 months.

Class lectures are 5-6 weeks followed by orientation which is 5 months, hospital's main OR-NO trauma, and 18-20 rooms i think.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Oct 24, 2006

20 ORs, orientation is up to a year, but can be shorter.

am17sg05 · Oct 24, 2006

hospital orientation is 4 weeks.unit orientation is 2 weeks but may vary.

ortess1971 · Oct 24, 2006

We have 12 OR's, we don't do cardiac or heavy trauma, and they told me to expect to be on orientation until January/February..Those last 2 months are really more tying up loose ends, ie getting in whatever cases I missed. My orientation has been haphazard, because there are 4 new nurses from the floors and we are shortstaffed, so sometimes, I get pulled to scrub. Despite that, it's still been going well and I'm glad I had those years as a tech because it wasn't quite as overwhelming as it could have been..

RNOTODAY, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2006

20 ORs, orientation is up to a year, but can be shorter.

So, up to a year is not impossible, or uncommon?

My manager told us that a year is rediculous, it should never take anyone 1 year to learn their job, and he would be very surprised if ANY hospital of any size would even make an orientation that long for anyone.He acted like it was absolutely unheard of.

My hospital, as I said, does it all, trauma, open hearts, etc....

TPTB wants a 6 month orientation, period. Currently the orientees are stretching it out , around 9 months, and they are unhappy

I felt like telling them that if you had a DECENT staff that would TEACH new people the ropes,and the place got their act together, it just MIGHT be possible. I walked into a mess.......this place I am in has had no decent mgmt for years, the loonies ran the loonie bin, as I like to say... and now they are really rebelling like little kids. "we never did it like that" "since when do we do it this way" "its always been this, its always been that" ..whine whine whine........ I wish the travelers could orient me the whole time....I swear, where I am, they are the best, they are willing to teach you, they are NICE..... ah well.can we tell I had a bad day?????? :uhoh3:

ortess1971 · Oct 25, 2006

So, up to a year is not impossible, or uncommon?
My manager told us that a year is rediculous, it should never take anyone 1 year to learn their job, and he would be very surprised if ANY hospital of any size would even make an orientation that long for anyone.He acted like it was absolutely unheard of.
My hospital, as I said, does it all, trauma, open hearts, etc....
TPTB wants a 6 month orientation, period. Currently the orientees are stretching it out , around 9 months, and they are unhappy
I felt like telling them that if you had a DECENT staff that would TEACH new people the ropes,and the place got their act together, it just MIGHT be possible. I walked into a mess.......this place I am in has had no decent mgmt for years, the loonies ran the loonie bin, as I like to say... and now they are really rebelling like little kids. "we never did it like that" "since when do we do it this way" "its always been this, its always been that" ..whine whine whine........ I wish the travelers could orient me the whole time....I swear, where I am, they are the best, they are willing to teach you, they are NICE..... ah well.can we tell I had a bad day??????

Your manager is WRONG...the orientees who are new to the OR have gotten up to a year before they are out completely on their own. The only reason mine is a little less(8-9 months) is because I was a scrub before. Even my end date is negotiable, depending on my comfort level..It comes down to this..your butt will be on the line (as well as the patient's) if you are cut loose too soon. I think I know what facility you're referring to, and they are notorious for treating new people badly..the heart team alone can't keep staff for long because of a certain doc. It sounds like they're setting you guys up for failure..Tell your manager to call my facility, they'll set him straight. PM me and I'll give you the number;)

inspir8tion · Oct 25, 2006

My OR program is 9 months. The first 7 weeks have been split between classroom lecture and exposure to the ORs shadowing scrubs and circulators. It is a level 1 trauma hospital. To do open heart, they require 3 additional months.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Oct 25, 2006

So, up to a year is not impossible, or uncommon?
My manager told us that a year is rediculous, it should never take anyone 1 year to learn their job, and he would be very surprised if ANY hospital of any size would even make an orientation that long for anyone.He acted like it was absolutely unheard of.

Your manager sounds very elitist, not to mention it sounds like he would throw people to the wolves.

Anyway, our orientation can be up to a year, but if a person is proven proficient sooner (i.e. able to do something with no help), they can move on to the next step in training.

RNOTODAY, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2006

thanks marie, tess...

thats what I thought....thanks for clarifying..

Yes, everybody in this place will throw you to the wolves....

They should be happy anybody at all would even consider staying after being there just one day........I think he's got alot of nerve having this attitude when the place is run like a disgrace....Its like hes clueless.

No image, the trays are wrong, nobody in reprocessing can tell you where to get the stuff thats supposed to be there.., they literally hang the phone up on you when you call them.... "its kept in the core" "you dont need that tray" uggghhhhhh

and that cardiac surgeon you mentioned tess. Hes so bad its actually funny. Want to hear thte latest? A pt died on the table, during a cabg. After the dust settled, he screamed out loud to everyone involved, including the PA, and anesthesia, "You people wanted him to die, that why this happened!!!!!, all of you are evil!!!!!" Now, I think thats hillarious.

ortess1971 · Oct 25, 2006

thanks marie, tess...
thats what I thought....thanks for clarifying..
Yes, everybody in this place will throw you to the wolves....
They should be happy anybody at all would even consider staying after being there just one day........I think he's got alot of nerve having this attitude when the place is run like a disgrace....Its like hes clueless.
No image, the trays are wrong, nobody in reprocessing can tell you where to get the stuff thats supposed to be there.., they literally hang the phone up on you when you call them.... "its kept in the core" "you dont need that tray" uggghhhhhh
and that cardiac surgeon you mentioned tess. Hes so bad its actually funny. Want to hear thte latest? A pt died on the table, during a cabg. After the dust settled, he screamed out loud to everyone involved, including the PA, and anesthesia, "You people wanted him to die, that why this happened!!!!!, all of you are evil!!!!!" Now, I think thats hillarious.

So weird that you said that! He's legendary for telling everyone in the room, "you're all killing my patient!" LOL! I do feel horrible for that pt. though.

tinkerbell06 · Nov 2, 2006

My orientation is supposed to be only set up for 4 months. But I really think a year sounds like a better orientation time. There is way too much information and equipment to remember and figure out. The hospital I am at is a Level 1 Trauma Center with 18 operating rooms. A new RN definitely needs more time.