Teaching hospitals vs others

[lorabel]

Do you think a "teaching hospital" would provide a better orientation than a community or other hospital (for lack of a better word)? I think as newbie nurses we need sufficient orientation to gain some confidence and get our feet under us before throwing us out there. In hindisght and analyzing my situation to death...I think that if I had longer on orientation I would have felt much more confident. I told them I wasnt ready but they cut me loose anyway....I have been hearing from other newbies I graduated with that their orientation was much longer than mine and they were not off orientation until they felt confident. I had 6 weeks...5 because one was classroom. My fellow grads went to the city and bigger hospitals and had minimum of 3 months....most of these hospitals were teaching hospitals...I guesss what is considered teaching hospital is one that is affiliated with a University.....:icon_roll I didnt want the drive to the city but if it makes me a better nurse I'll go for it! I need to go where they really care about you as a nurse and will teach me. I'm willing to learn and contnue learning...I just need some nurturing in the process! Thoughts?

[KckStrt]

I am in my first year and on my second job. Reason was my wife relocated for her career.

Both of my orientations have been 12 weeks. Now that being said, my first was a med/surg unit at a very large teaching hospital. It was fantastic, work was very hard but the resources where outstanding (didn't know I had it so good good until now). The teaching hospital also had a 16 week program for new ED nurses.

The second job is in the ED and is 12 weeks, very informal, no advance practice nurse educators, preceptors are not paid for precepting, and my days and schedule are completely unorganized. This is a much smaller hospital.

I think the larger teaching hospitals have much more money and are exactly that TEACHING. I have had the luxury of coming from that and this transition has been hard for me, but I will make it. The staff in the ED I am in are very knowledge able, all my certifications (BLS, ACLS, PALS, TNCC....etc.) are paid for and I am paid while I am there, there are resources available I just have to know where to look.

Hope this helps and you find where you want to go. For me there is nothing worse then going to a job that I am unhappy at.

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

I work at a very large university teaching hospital, very big into research, etc. I work in an ICU and my orientation will only be 8 weeks long and then I'm on my own (PICU to be exact). So no, it's not always better. It just depends on the hospital. My hospital has the money, they just don't care about the nursing staff. The nurses themselves are great and very supportive and like to teach new nurses, just the management could care less about the nurses.

The good things about a teaching hospital is you get to learn a lot because your also work with residents and medical students...so I've learned a lot being part of that education. So I do like that aspect of my job. I love learning like that and I really do feel part of the "team" because our doctors request that the nurses be present and we are expected to add our input during rounds....I mean that is cool huh?

But 8 weeks orientation for ICU to me is a bit crazy and I'm not sure I'm going to stay where I'm at. I know I won't have one preceptor, but just whoever is available that day and it's not very well organized.

But if your friends are telling you they are getting good orientation time then I would totally go for it because you WILL learn more at a teaching hospital for sure.

[lorabel]

Thank you. That helps alot...I'm just worried that I burned the bridge when I quit...the place i worked is part of the large network including the major hospitals..university hospital..which are the teaching hospitals! Guess I wont know until i try! If worst comes to worst I can work for a year somewhere and then reapply within the network.