Orientation question/amt of days a wk

[SMK1211]

hi everyone! i am finally starting my new position on a busy cardiac tele floor. my first day on orientation was yesterday. it went fine, basically i was just dusting off the rust since i haven't had patient care since my last day of clinicals in april. it did seem a little overwhelming as far as charting everything and remembering things but not yet like i wanted to cry. but that was only two patients. i think i am going to have two again the next time and work my way to four patients. when i get off of orientation i will be working 3-1130 and have 4-5 patients. i am doing days and evening orientation. my question is this: i get 6 wks of orientation. i will be with a few different people who will train me. i really don't think that is ideal, but this is how the floor does things. i will be working half time, which is 40hrs in two weeks so....three days one wk and two the next to equal 40hrs. this is what they are scheduling me. they gave me the option of orienting more. at first i said yes and they put me on a half time schedule anyway. when they were making out the next one for the remainder of the six wks, i told her that i would stick to half time hours. this works ideally for me as i have two small children and it is not exactly easy to get a babysitter for me. but i am worried that it is not enough time. a friend of mine oriented 4x/wk 3-eight hour shifts and 1-12hr shift, but this was for the er so i am sure that was needed. what do you think? my thought was if it was not ok to do it this way they wouldn't have offered me the option of half time hours? i don't know what to do....any advice would be appreciated!

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I know you want to spend time with your children and do not want a babysitter, but you really need to make sure you give yourself enough time to feel at least a little comfortable on the floor. As a new nurse you won't feel 100% ready, but you should feel at least safe on the floor.

[MERRYWIDOW46]

I am a well seasoned nurse, working in a 48 hour/ pay period position. Orientation was Full Time, 36 hours a week. I have over 30 years experience and got 8 weeks to orient. 28 hours were classroom time and the rest 12 hour clinical days 3 times a week. I can not imagine being a new grad, having never been a staff nurse in a hospital and orienting to Tele of all specialties half time. Something is off if they are willing to do that with a new grad.

MOST new grad orientations are a combination of classes, especially for you learning cardiac rhythms and interventions, as well as day and evening shifts with a preceptor and last a minimum of 12 weeks and some programs are 6 months.

I would discuss this with your manager. I'm not sure 6 weeks days/eveinings half time will adequately prepare you for tele nursing. Good luck and keep us informed.

PS: I DO understand child care issues, however, at the end of the day if you don't know something at the end of orientation you and your license are on the line.

[Guest321574]

Are you sure that the # of weeks won't be extended since you are working less shifts/week? For instance, I got no where near 6 weeks, but for my orientation, most of the nurses got 2 weeks full-time weekdays, but since I oriented on weekends only, I ended up in orientation over a period of about 4 weeks...Maybe check if that would be the case for you?

[SMK1211]

hi all. thank you for responding to my post. i worked today and it went really well. i only had two patients and i felt the day went smooth. i fully understand that this will not be typical of all my shifts but still, i felt good today. i voiced my concern about the amt of time i will orient and my main preceptor said that it is up to me and that i could extend my orientation at the end if i don't feel ready. i really don't want to be the only one out of the four of us that will request that though. so, i told her that i would finish the schedule the way it is thru christmas and see how i feel and if need be i will plug myself in more throughout the remainder of my orientation. she agreed that it sounded like a good idea so, i guess that is what i will do. it is so stressful trying to balance kids and work. i am so envious of those nurses that do not have to worry about that. i mean don't get me wrong, i obviously love my children, i just beat myself up over not getting my degree/license right out of high school!!!! oh well, it is what it is. anyway thanks for all the replies, and if there is any more opinions out there that would be great!