I started working as a GN last week. I had 5 full days of central nurse orientation (covered benefits, union, computer system, infection control, blood product administration, incident reporting, hospital proceedures, etc) . This week it is 3 days of med-surge orientation. Next, 5 weeks of unit orientation with a preceptor.
I was told, "You have a 6 week orientation, if it takes that long, then you're on your own." This was for the ER. I'd like to work in the ER, but was also offered a 16 week orientation for the MICU at another hospital.
16 weeks sounds better than 6 weeks. I'd love to find a hospital offering some of the extended orientation period I have read on this thread. Oh, the longest orientation I have heard was for the OR, which was for 6 months. But, OR is an entirely different world, which they didn't cover in nursing school.
Also, the hospital offering the 16 week orientation actually discussed having an educational director, and outlined steps and classes during orientation. The ER position was strictly on the job training.
rissa2007
3 Posts
I started my GN program on an Oncology unit 4 weeks ago and my program lasts 6 weeks with an extention if me or my preceptor thinks I need it.