HolisticNursz

Hi! Happy to help and support new nurses. We have all been there. I hope someone from a psyc unit will respond on the format of a good orientation. I started in the ICU and I'm sure the process was much longer. I've heard of nurses on Med-surg just having 3 months of preceptorship and then turned loose. Watch out for a few things: There are variances between nurses and trying to keep up with it all from one nurse to the next can get difficult. Doable but difficult. I've had alittle bit of that, one nurse will tell me one thing and another will refute it. It left me leaving the shift like I had to start all over with my training. Definitely, not a confidence builder. Drove me crazy, and left huge holes in my training that I didn't discover until later. Second, the nurses don't have a lot of time. Meaning, they are mostly too busy to train you properly. Sounds like you are learning trial by fire. For a new nurse, risky business when it comes to your license. Every nurse has training horror stories and some do need more training then others. Thirdly, do you see the nurses supporting each other when there is a crises on the unit or is it every one for themselves. You'll take on more responsibility whether your ready or not, if it's every man for themselves. I see your trying to make it work for you. So, just be aware of possibly having to work through these issues. Again, good luck, and hopefully a psyc nurse will respond.

Hello, No! Not normal! Especially for a new nurse. Also, one of my pet peeves. I've had to work through a lot of orientation issues over the years especially when I did some travel nursing. So, here's my 2 cents: Regardless of the terrible support or lack there of they showed you in the beginning, this really is about employment negotiation. From your comments, it sounds as though the residency was not discussed previously as terms of your employment. Also, it sounds as though the unit director decided after you were employed that you would take part in the residency. This is a change in the terms of your agreed upon position, pay, and contract vs traditional employment, all without your approval. In that case, I would sit down with the Unit Director and discuss the fact that upon agreement of the terms of your employment, you were not made aware or agreed to enter a residency program, less pay, and a 2 year contract. You agreed to enter employment under a preceptorship for ? months and there after ongoing support from a resource nurse on the unit for ? months, etc. If you can't get the director/ human resources to agree upon acceptable terms, then you can always say I'm going to have to rethink my employment with your unit/hospital. Leave it at that and let them think that you might leave, and they will lose a person with your experience. (In my case as a new grad RN years ago, I had some trouble with Human resources, so I called the unit director and told her about it and said I was thinking of withdrawing my application and applying to such-n-such hospital system, and she was able to help pull some strings.) If they don't change their position or their hands are tied due to a new hospital policy for new grads then you've got choices to make. Keep these things in mind: 1) Your initial training at the hospital is very important and serves as a career long building block. Don't take less training then you deserve. You have to be trained and fully supported enough to fill comfortable on the unit. It's your License you are protecting by demanding a good and thorough orientation. 2) Find out the reason for the change. Is there not a quality preceptor willing to orient you? If not, and you don't have other options for employment, then the residency may be your best offer with the best training/support option. 3) What your employer has showed you so far is that they failed you right from the beginning and they are already comfortable jerking you around! Consider if that is an employer you want to enter into a long term relationship. Be confident! The corporate culture of hospitals is challenging. They move people around like chess pieces to make it work mostly for themselves. From the get go, teach them your one to be respected and you dictate your career... not the other way around. Good Luck! I'm rooting for you!!!!