orientation 8hr shifts / 5 days a week

Nurses New Nurse

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Hey everyone,

I graduated in May 2011 and received a verbal offer for a new grad position on a telemetry unit in July. Paperwork took forever and I just received the official offer and I am getting set to go in mid November. I am very excited about getting my first job since it is so hard out there for new grads!!

My orientation on the unit will be for 8 weeks. In the beginning, I'll spend 1 day with the unit secretary to get familiar with entering orders and computer work, I will spend 2 days in the monitor room looking over the strips and watching the monitors, I will be taking a 3 day EKG class and eventually an ACLS class. My orientation on the unit will be working 8 hour shifts / 5 days a week. For the first 4 weeks I will be working 7am -3pm and will have two preceptors to cover my 5 days a week. My preceptors will take the same patients as my previous preceptor so that I will get to have the same patients. The following 4 weeks I will precept from 3pm -11pm with 2 preceptors. At the end of the 8 weeks, I will start out on the night shift and my manager will make sure one of the preceptors that I worked with on 3-11 shift is also working.

Is this how any other new grad programs are run? I am curious if this is common and what people think the benefits are or any concerns I will have.... My manager believes that this will give me the most exposure to everything and will be a solid training. She has a very good reputation for training new grads and seems very open and approachable so I trust her but a little curious what others think about this type of new grad training. I know the 8 hour shift compared to the long haul 12 hours overnight will be an adjustment but I think I'll like the 3 days / week compared to 5 in a row!!

Any advice for starting out on a telemetry unit? Drugs or procedures to look up?

Thanks a bunch : )

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

In terms of an orientation schedule, you hit the jackpot. Consistent preceptors and patient assignments? Primo. I can see why your NM has a good reputation for orienting new grads. Read some of the posts by other new grads; many are being thrown to the wolves.

Thank your lucky stars and don't look for things to quibble about. The real stressors will make themselves known soon enough. Enjoy that someone cares enough to arrange a thorough, supported orientation for you. And congratulations on your new job!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I had a similar orientation not as a new grad, but as a new nurse to my current ER. I did a week of 8 hour days and a week of 8 hour nights on orientation, then moved to my regular night shift 12s. It worked well.

I have to agree with Tricia -- sounds like a great orientation! Good length, good content, solid plan. It seems to have thought behind it as far as developing you into a member of their team. Congratulations and good luck!!

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Congratulations on the new job! Sounds like a very organized orientation. I am also a new grad, and i started orientation back in mid-August . Mine is 8 hrs 5 days a week, but I never know what floor, preceptor, or patients I will have until I show up. I wish my orientation was more like yours!

I also have been hired into a telemetry unit, and the meds I seem to see the most(when i am on my homebase floor)are: metoprolol, coreg, solu-medrol IVP, cardizem drips, heparin drips, HTN meds and blood or platelet thinners. Also always being aware of INR, PT, PTT, and labs. But this is from about 2 months of experience, so I don't have much else to go on! :)

Good luck to you! Sounds like your employer wants you to succeed!

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Thank you for your responses! I had always assumed that I would train on 3 twelves so when she said 8 hour 5 days a week I wasn't sure if it was normal. Your responses have made me feel confident in the program that has hired me. I will start looking up those medications so I can feel (somewhat )prepared!

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Specializes in NICU.

One more comment, when precepting senior students or new hires, I've observed the 10-hour phenomenon. Brains get "full" and EVERY student or new hire I've worked with hits the wall at the 10-hour mark. She usually perks back up about 30 minutes later. However that alone makes me think that your manager's plan looks great. Best wishes; I agree that it sounds like you hit the jackpot! I hope it all works out as planned.

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That sounds really good :) It's very common to work different shifts on a M-F schedule, since you have things that are done with the folks who also work those hours. (ie- ACLS and EKG class) You will also have some basic stuff- fire safety, back safety, and "classroom" stuff- it's boring, but necessary :up:

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