What is considered an acceptable length of new grad residency or orientation?

[CEMMDRN]

Hi all,

I recently interviewed for an ICU nurse residency program. I was told that is was 12 weeks (1 day of classroom and 4 days on the unit with a one on one preceptor); then I would begin on my own.

My question is: Is 12 weeks enough time to be fully prepared to start working as an ICU nurse?

I gladly welcome and the thoughts and suggestions of all the critical care nurse here.

Thanks

[ICU-BSN]

There is no cut and dry answer for this. It depends on the unit and the individual. When I first started I ended up with 10 weeks and then was on my own, whereas another girl got closer to 20 weeks before they let her off orientation.

That said, 12 weeks is a fairly standard orientation. If you are approaching that time and aren't feeling confident, you can ask to be extended another week or two.

Just remember, you aren't expected to know everything at the end of orientation. The biggest thing you need to know is when to ask for help!

[Tracy0924]

I was in orientation for 10 weeks in psychiatric/med-surg as a new grad. Personally, I felt that it was enough for me, but management was very open with me and said that if I wanted more time, all I had to do was ask. I was grateful for that, because it helped my confidence level in that I wouldn't look like a big dumb-dumb if I said I wasn't ready. Be honest with your manager and always tell them if you aren't comfortable yet.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

My new grad program was 20 weeks long. I thought that was a little too long. The ICU's new grad program was even longer- I think 6 months.

[_firefly, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Acceptable? Zero. No special training aside from shadowing a nurse for a bit is the historical standard and still was is common many places. What you can hope for is 10+ weeks.

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

Our PICU new grads get 6 months. Unless you have years of experience as an RN, 12 weeks is way to short for a brand new RN. At 12 weeks you are hardly able to care for stable critical patients. There is just so much that you don't know at that point. OUr new grads have weekly classes the first 12 weeks along with two days of patient work with a preceptor. After they pass a written test, they graduate from that aspect of the ICU program and have 3 days a week precepted experience until approximately 6 months. Some 5 1/2, some 6 1/4.

[cleback]

ICUs near me, 6 months is standard for new grads. For the general floor, 12 weeks. I had 8 weeks as a new grad on psych. Then 12 weeks when I moved to PCU because it was a new specialty, albeit I wasn't a new nurse.

I would be a bit hesitant of 12 weeks in an icu for a new grad... unless the acuity is not much (some rural icus are more like PCU or medsurg). Do they have much experience with orienting new grads? Have provided extensions in the past? Things to ask or think about.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

Here I go again I graduated from my diploma program at 11am, and was charge in CCU as a GN on the 3-11 shift......but I had worked the last 9weeks of my program in same CCU, getting charge experience.....l.

I had two days in a major t aching Hosp in Memphis now called THE MED....to work CCU...and sometimes float to cvicu

...but my diploma program prepared me to be a critical care nurse...but nursing education has changed from the 70's

[klone, MSN, RN]

For new grads, we have a residency program that's 12 weeks. In mom/baby we find that to be ample. We don't train new grads to L&D where I work now, but in other hospitals, L&D orientation would be 4-6 months. I would imagine other specialty critical units would be similar.

[Lipoma, BSN, RN]

I recently interviewed for an ER position and I was told new grads are given 12-14 weeks. I do have 3 years of urgent care experience (the office didn't hire nurses) and they really liked that I had somewhat "fast track" exposure.

I did ask should I need more than 14 weeks would I be able to extend and they were open to it.

A former classmate of mine is given 6 months of orientation as a new grad in the NICU.

[fourthtimesacharm, CRNA]

My ICU residency was 12 weeks, after that it was another 3 months where had an assigned nurse as a resource person.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

For me, it wasn't. 12 weeks is not long enough to master everything (or anything really) in an ICU. Good luck!