Typical orientation time for new hire?

[MyAimIsTrue, BSN]

I've just completed my first year of nursing (whew!) and have accepted a new job. They are giving me two weeks of orientation, so eight shifts. To me that doesn't seem like much, but is this typical for an experienced nurse?

[Davey Do]

Congratulations on successfully completing your first year of nursing, MyAim, and on your new job!

When I retired from Wrongway Regional Medical Center in 2020, new hires in psych were getting six weeks of orientation.

When I hired at Wrongway in '03, I got two shifts on the unit before I was the RN that weekend.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Depends on if it's a unit similar to one you've already worked.  We typically give two weeks to experienced new hires to learn our way of doing things, since we presume they know how to take care of patients.  If they aren't ready or if they come from a different setting, for example if someone is coming from a nursing home and never worked in a hospital they get longer, but those are individually made decisions.

Good luck!

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

As others have mentioned, the process usually depends on where your new job is, what your previous experience is, and it is probably also impacted by the level of need in your new position. If you don't feel comfortable making this transition with two weeks orientation, speak up quickly. Once the ball is rolling you're unlikely to get a commitment to change their plans. Good luck!

[T-Bird78]

I’m an LPN with 13 years experience but have never worked in a hospital. I was pulled, by our healthcare system, to work in one of our hospitals to help with the overly full situation. The original plan was for me to watch one RN for med administration for one day (they have me doing 5 8-hour shifts and not 3 12’s) then start med pass the next day by myself. My first day on the floor started late because I had to redo my N95 fit test, which took longer than it should have. I got to the floor and there were 3 admits from ER, one rapid response called, two d/c pts, and one sign out AMA; the unit houses med-surg, postop, telemetry, and COVID pts. My interim supervisor asked if I’d be okay doing med pass the next day on 4-5 pts and I said no because I hadn’t been able to watch a real med pass due to all the other things going on (and my RN got 2 of the admits and also had the rapid response pt). She told me they don’t normally give 2 days of orientation to new hires, which baffles me completely. Not only do I not know the Pyxis, I don’t know the inpatient part of our EMR system. I got to watch demonstration videos online but need hands-on experience to feel comfortable. We agreed I’d be more or less a CNA/transport/tele battery retriever/pharmacy pick-up/lab pick-up/whatever random stuff needs doing person. 

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

I have been pretty spoiled; in changing between similar nursing jobs, I've always been offered a month of orientation, including classroom and typical hospital orientation. I have historically used every minute of it; it takes me a minute to get comfortable with everything that's new when changing hospitals, even if it's the same specialty.

If you feel two weeks isn't enough, definitely ask more if there's room to add another week or two if you feel like you'll need it. I always ask that question in orientation, and it saved my butt as a new grad - it was very illuminating when the interviewer looked stunned and said, "Well, after two weeks we really expect you to be up and running." To a brand new nurse. Noooooope.