Orientation Lengths for New Hires

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Hi Everyone,

As a new grad I just got hired as a home health care nurse. It is my first position since getting my lisence and was super nervous to start. However, after my in class 2 day orientation I found out that I only had two shifts of shadowing and then I would have clients of my own. After the 2 days I felt I was not prepared enough to go out on my own (especially because those 2 days I shadowed the same nurse who saw the same clients), so I asked for more time and they gave me one more day. Needless to say I am terrified! It has been 3 months working there now and i still feel uneasy! I am only guarenteed 2 shifts a month (weekend coverage, every nurse has a weekend) and really only get 2 shifts a month as the senior staff get all of the clients and I will only get some if they turn them down. Is this normal orientation practice? How am I going to keep my skills at par without having a steady client base? Should I talk to the manager about this issue? Quit? Any suggestions would help! Thanks

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Even as a new grad I only had three days orientation for day shift, two shifts on evenings and then look out world!

Orientation is about learning the paperwork and routines. We were expected to come with skills, that's what the final placement was for.

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Talk to your manager about it. Don't loose your lisence over "pretending" you know what you're doing. Thankfully, I had more than enough orientation for my first job because my manager understood as new grads we do need support to get us going. Don't stop looking for another job.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Yeah that sounds typical. I have an RPN friend that works for a community agency and she got three days in the community.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I would never suggest that a new grad start out in home health. The orientation and supervision IS minimal because you are expected to already have a skill set. You might be better off trying to get hired in a hospital. Even in LTC, the orientation is minimal. I had 4 orientation shifts, then I was on my own. After 3 months of working though, are you not at least starting to feel more confident in your role?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Yeah that crossed my mind too joanna. I was offered a job in home health when I graduated but I turned it down. You need some experience under your belt first so you have developed some judgement and gained some experience.

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Specializes in MPH Student Fall/14, Emergency, Research.

I had 6 shifts in the ED and no shifts in home health. My first visit had a supervisor stop by to make sure I was there and doing okay. My ED skills were really important in home health. Agree that it's probably best for new grads to work with other nurses in acute care before considering home health.

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Talk to your manager about it. Don't loose your lisence over "pretending" you know what you're doing. Thankfully, I had more than enough orientation for my first job because my manager understood as new grads we do need support to get us going. Don't stop looking for another job.

It's very difficult to lose a practice permit. I've never heard of one becoming looser.

You pretty much have to be caught buying narcs with a stolen script and paying with a credit card that you took from the patient's bedside.

Even then, you'd be in more danger of getting charged by the police than losing the license

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Specializes in AC, LTC, Community, Northern Nursing.

I did homecare for 3 yrs.. It is not recommended for new grads because of the independent nature of your work.. I was orientated with 4 wks of homecare orientation...

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