orientation for new GN/RN: what's normal? what isn't?

Nurses New Nurse

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I will be starting my first job as a GN/RN in about a month....it isn't one of those "orientation" things that many hospitals due that start in Jan. or June (where tons of new nurses all start at one time and go through it together).

I know my orientation, according to the HR person, will be AT LEAST 12 weeks...more than likely, more.

What kind of things should I expect from an orientation?

What kind of questions should I ask?

I survived nursing school and all the associated insanity--but the new test is the real world, and I'm a bit freaked out!!!!

Any advice/comments/suggestions would be great. :)

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

My new grad orientation was as follows..

Week one.... hospital wide orientation, sitting in a "classroom"

Week two.... computer orientation...sitting again in a computer room

Then I started orienting to the floor. First day I basically followed..finally begged to be allowed to DO something lol. Next day I took 1 pt..gradually worked up to taking 6 with an LPN and my preceptor. In the beginning...EVERYTHING was watched by the preceptor. I had a book of skills I had to complete competencies on. Eventually the preceptor was just "around" (taking a VERY light assignment) so she could be available to help me with anything needed.

I don't remember anymore how long I oriented for on med/surg..maybe 8 weeks? Then I worked for about a month...then started orienting to CCU...where it started over again...new book of competencies. I oriented to the unit for I think 6 weeks.

As far as questions..ANYTHING that you're not comfortable with. I prabably ask TOO many questions...but am told by older nurses they MUCH prefer this to a new nurse who thinks she knows it all. I am willing to do anything...after I'm sure I know how/why.

Good luck to you!

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thanks! :) I appreciate your (and others') responses so very much :)

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Specializes in ICU.

The mere fact your asking questions now says enough about your interest and caring attitude.

Any and all questons are appropriate, never stop asking.

There really is no 'standard' orientation process, that's the great/unique thing about nursing. It conforms to the environment.

I agree with above post: 1st week is general hospital orient. 2nd week usually computer/documentation and then to follow will be maybe a critical care course, or a Dysrhythmia course...

Actual orientation can go from 6-12 weeks on our unit.

Best of luck.

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.

For me it was one day of hospital orientation (videos, guest speakers, etc.), then 3 days of nursing orientation, i.e. anything and everything nursing related, followed with the very common phrase "The details are UNIT SPECIFIC" lol I heard that over and over. So I got an extremely general overview, and then learned a ton more on my unit the following week (which was just last week!). My first night I just followed my preceptor and assisted her with her patients. I had one patient for two nights, then last night I took two, I'll probably keep two for a few more days then add another, etc. etc. Our unit ratio is 4:1, so as long as I can take care of 4 patients on my own by my 8th week I'll be set. I am very very lucky to be working on a unit that has absolute team work, no doubt about it, these nurses really watch out for each other. We don't have any CNAs on night shift, and no LVNs at all on our unit, so we have 100% RN care on nights; the nurses all know we depend on each other to make the night go smoothly, I think it really brings about a better attitude to our floor.

Anyway, sorry about my tangent, I guess I also wanted to stress to whoever reads this thread that not all nurses eat their young (a whole other topic, I know) but since a lot of new grads might be reading this, I wanted to say that it isn't all that bad out here in the real world :)

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