Orientation Length? PP and NBN

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Nov 3, 2008

Welcome aboard! :)

Are you talking about a new grad orientation, or new-to-the-hospital orientation but not a new nurse?

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 4, 2008

GN 1-2 months in PP then they move them to nursery where they get 2-3 months in there.

Experienced nurse WAY less, about 5 weeks total for both areas.

We do not do mom/baby care, we have PP nurses, nursery nurses. Each job is separate.

We pair our new employees with a seasoned nurse. They are 1 RN in our staffing (not 2). Usually everything goes while in orientation. If it's a skill or a procedure yet to be done then you do it with the help of your preceptor.

LDR-RN · Nov 4, 2008

Yes, I am a new graduate. Thanks for the help. I am hoping to get a job in either PP or newborn nursery.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Nov 4, 2008

I think new grads get 16-20 weeks at my place. We do mother-baby, nursery, and antepartum, so several skill sets to learn. Good luck. :)

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 4, 2008

I think ideal orientation should be no less than 6 months for the new graduate. Some places offer much less and IMO, that is not a good place to be right out of school.

GOOD LUCK!

CNMtobe2012 · Nov 5, 2008

Suprise to hear so many of you received such long orientation phases. I graduated in May of 07 and took a position at a large teaching hospital on a high risk ob unit. Where I work nurses are trained as perinatal nurses meaning I work ante, post, NBN, and L&D. Initially when I started I was given an 8 week orientation (total) on ante, post and NBN. I felt pretty comfortable after 8 weeks. I worked these units indepedently for about 6 weeks and then I was cross trained to work L&D for 6 weeks. I definitely didn't think 6 weeks was enough time to learn all that needed to be learned (L&D is an ER for pregnant women in itself) but management was pretty good about making ajustment so that I could sharpen my skills in the areas I felt uncomfortable with. I think you have to decide whats best for you. The learning curve your 1st year is going to be huge but its doable. Just keep an open line of communication with your preceptor and if towards the end of your orientation you don't feel prepared don't be afraid to say so. When it was time for me to end my cross training on L&D I was terrified, because I didn't feel confident in my skills. I had to learn that when you come off of orientation you have to be "comfortable" with your skills and "confident" in yourself. The only way you are ever going to gain confidence in your skills is by getting out on the floor.