RN Orientation Length

[Birdbr]

For registered, I have a few questions related to your orientation.

1. What specialty/specialties?

2. Orientation length for those specialties?

3. Size of hospital for the orientations?

Thanks,

Birdbr

[caryrey02]

Registered Nurse in Miami, FL LTAC patients (in pretty bad condition) 50 beds hospital ... 4 weeks of orientation, could extend to 6 only if really needed

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

PICU in New Jersey- 12 weeks. 20 bed PICU, nearly 700 bed hospital.

[SNIXRN]

Ortho/urology

3 month orientation that included nclex review and nursing classes (heparin, EKG, sepsis, etc) - they really prepares us :) (6 months for ICU)

300 bed hospital

[Aeterna, BSN, RN]

Here in Ontario, we have something called a "New Graduate Guarantee", where the government funds employers of new grad nurses to have 3-6 months of orientation under a preceptor (a more experienced nurse). I participated in it, although my experience with the program was....different.

I had roughly a month with a preceptor, and then took on 3-patient assignments (our usual on our floor is 4-5). Once I got comfortable with that, I started taking on 4 patients. I did ask for my manager for another week with a preceptor somewhere in there because I found I was really struggling to handle 4 patients (but really, I just had crappy assignments, lol).

We also had paid education days scattered throughout to cover a wide variety of topics.

I did this for a total of 5 months.

This is at a large hospital (~450 beds).

Our floor has 58 beds but space for an additional 2 if we're in overcapacity. It is a combination of medical/oncology/palliative.

[raskol]

I am going to get 12 weeks orientation on a cardiac step-down floor at a 700 bed facility.

[Sheepwithagun]

Operating Room (does GU/GYN, ortho, neuro, peds/peds CT, ENT, trauma, and transplants)

9 months roughly - 3 learning instruments, 1 of classroom, and 5 going through the service groups

750 bed hospital (teaching)

[diane227, LPN, RN]

It totally depends on the area, your experience level and the requirements for that facility. I just started working for the state last November as a nursing home complaint investigator/ surveyor and my orientation period will be one year. And they no not expect me to really know my job until about two years. I have been a nurse for 33 years. It is a totally different line of work. So it is very variable.

[Birdbr]

Thanks so much for replying. All these answers are very helpful.

[kagarciaRN, BSN]

special procedures-endoscopy, OR sedates, IV infusions, wound care, radiology

6 months orientation with a preceptor

small community hospital 125 beds