Standard Orientation vs Internship

[Mommy TeleRN, RN]

Well I have an interesting dilemma.

Hospital offers two options:

Standard 90 day orienation, strictly with preceptor (although online education materials are available to learn more on your own

Or

9 month internship program, with classroom time, time spent in other departments and other areas such as cath lab, surgery, etc to learn how whole hospital runs, lots of online classes that you can do at the hospital on the clock, focuses on various body systems and disease integration that they correlate with the preceptor to try and get you a pt with that disease process so you can apply the focused topic, etc.

The only catch is the standard orientation requires no contract. The fancy internship requires a 2 yr committment (don't yet know the penalty..will find that out tomorrow when I meet with HR) I already work on the floor and like it, but I do worry about losing future bargaining power.

I also have to find out if the payscale is any different for the 2 options. I was quoted a payrate but at the time HR said they assumed the standard orientation. I would hope the pay isn't any different but I will have to find that out.

Any thoughts on which option to take?

[gradRN2007, BSN, RN]

9 month

[Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN]

The internship would be the option I'd go for. Two years isn't all that long if you ask me. Seems like they would be teaching you a lot more than what you'd learn in a standard orientation. Sometimes hospitals will buy out your contract if they want you badly enough. Still and all, for two years you'll get a lot of bedside nursing skills under your belt and then you could write your own ticket from there. The two-year wait will give you the jump in your career that might take you farther.

Just my opinion though. I have no knowledge or experience to back this up.

[suzanne4, RN]

Definitely the internship, hands down. You will get the best orientation, and build the best skills set with that. And that will make you the more marketable later on in your career. The more things that you can do, the better it is for your patients as well.

[Mommy TeleRN, RN]

Thanks Suzanne and every one. I have thought about the fact that showing I've completed this extensive internship will add to my marketability later..esp if I pursue ICU because there is an ICU like component. I guess I'll just have to see what the penalty is and also make sure the pay rate is the same. I may be updating this for more feedback after meeting with HR.

I got an email showing they've ALREADY registered me for HURST review! I feel they definitely put a lot into their new nurses..I already feel like I've got a headstart having interned for the past year.

[TazziRN, RN]

Internship. More extensive, therefore the contract requirement.

[allantiques4me]

I dont want to sound stupid,but is there such internship programs for LPNs also?If someone would please reply Id appreciate it .Thanks

[anne74]

I would do the 9-month internship. I did a 12-month internship, and also signed a 2-yr contract. Even if you don't like your first placement, you can always change to a different unit within the hospital. I hated my first job, but the hospital helped me find a new home and I'm much happier now. Plus, it sounds like you'll be exposed to a lot, which can help you determine where you'd really like to work.

[NurseLatteDNP, MSN, DNP, RN]

9 month.

[Mommy TeleRN, RN]

Update: I haven't signed a contract yet. I am working though and start precepting this weekend (just went through hospital orientation) The penalty is ~ $7000. The 2 years starts at the end of the internship..when you are a productive nurse working on your own (you do have access to your preceptor though to mentor you through the whole 2 years) After one year you would pay back 50%. After 18 months 25%.

I do know I already like the floor and staff because I've already worked there for a year.

I am also a non-benefitted so am receiving a much higher pay rate but I will of course not have a higher penalty..so this is a bit of a benefit I guess because really it's costing them more to put me through all the class time and rotations and such. I'm starting out at roughly $62,000/yr nights because of forgoing benefits..plus any weekend diffs or OT I pick up...so I can't complain about the pay at all (esp in my very low cost of living area) Still it makes me a bit nervous about the contract but I do have the advantage of knowing what I'm signing up for (as far as the hospital and the floor/staff) I really do think it is good training and my preceptor is an incredible nurse with 20 years of experience.

I wonder if this is a new trend with these internships? I guess it's better than the hospitals that orient you for 6-8 weeks and expect you to be ready to take a full pt load by yourself (yikes..that is WAY scary to me! lol)

[jojotoo, RN]

What an opportunity! This is where you'll really learn about nursing - much, much more than class or clinicals. Take the internship.

[jjjoy, LPN]

I think internships are a great opportunity and I understand that hospitals don't want to train someone up so well and so long and then lose them... but still... what if it turned out I hated it? What if they wouldn't transfer me to a different unit if I weren't doing well?

Actually, $7000 isn't so bad... one could make a point to squirrel away as much of their income as possible during the internship in case it doesn't turn out. At a local hospital near me, you'd be responsible for $14,000 for a 4-month program if you don't complete the 2-yr contract, with the payback pro-rated depending on how long you did work. I'm guessing that's pretty much an exact payback of what the hospital shelled out for you over the 4 months (your pre-tax pay, benefits, etc).