Orientation to new unit?

[rnWinn]

I am wondering what kind of orientation a new travel nurse gets when he/she starts an assignment. I am an L&D nurse and I was told that at one place the travel nurses get half a shift of orientation and that's it. I am from Canada so there's quite a few differences in working L&D here and L&D in the states (for example different med names, different charting, etc. etc. etc).

[OkieICU_RN]

It really depends on the hospital. I have done orientation that is a full week long and I have done orientation that lasted a few hours and took my own patients later in the day.

Since you aren't completely familiar with several things, as you mentioned, you might want to get a staff position for a few months at the least and then think about traveling. One really has to be ready to be up and running from the start. Additionally, you may be floated to other units and know nothing about that unit/floor and have to be able to manage it.

Hope that helps some!

[rnWinn]

Thanks for your response...I won't be able to do the staff nurse thing first in the states but do have 5 years of L&D under my belt, so luckily I know my stuff in Canada, but may need a couple of days of orientation to get the hang of L&D in the states! At least I hope I'll get that much! One can dream....