kcondran

I am looking for information on nursing departmental orientations - most hospital orientations are pretty much cookie cutter from my experience but I am given the responsibility of putting together a departmental program at the facility I have worked at for 6 months as a staff nurse. I believe that there should be a different orientation period and format for new grads vs experienced grads but none between contract vs agency vs staff. Please knock holes in this thinking or support it!! Tell me what you liked best about your departmental orientation and what you thought was a real "YUCK"! I am particularly interested in Med-Surg but want input from everyone no matter the assignment. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

The old "lunch and learn" is alive and well at my institution. It is too bad that it is taken literally. "Lunch" is "noon to 1PM". The day shift or "A" (12 hour staff) is enhanced to make sure as many as possible may attend. Unfortunately, the PM, NOC, and "B" shift get nothing and have to be short staffed because of the additions needed for Day and "A" shift to attend. They wonder why they cannot keep PM or NOC or "B" shift staff but then the second class status is considered normal- shorter orientation periods because of staffing shortages, and generally less staffing because "nothing happens on these shifts" except the clean up from the previous shift and all the emergency admissions, surgeries, etc. The charge nurse is not assigned patients on "A" or Days but on the second class level in addition to charge you have a full patient load. It is a learning experience but I can't say it is a positive one.