What is orientation actually like?

I did orientation a bit ago (6 months) and this is what my orientation was like.

1. Big auditorium for everyone hired for the period. We did team building stuff and learned general hospital policies. (2 days)

2. Orientation with all the new hires that have direct patient contact to go over policies and stuff about that. (2 days)

3. Nursing orientation. We went through JCAHO stuff, nursing specific safety stuff and policies. (about 3 days)

After that there was orientation for people that are either new graduates or haven't worked in a while. This was about 2 weeks and we reviewed equipment that is used in the hospital and basic skills like being involved in mock codes, blood hanging protocols, and lots of other tasks. We also did the annual education stuff.

Then there was the floor time. I went to a floor with a few nurses and we all had the same nursing educator preceptor. We progressed from having 2 patients to having 4 after about 3 weeks. This allowed us to get comfortable with the computer charting and how the hospital worked.

The last part was 1:1 on the floor I was working on. I think I did this for 5 weeks.

That was my experience. Hope it helps.

I'm in orientation now. We get 20 12 hour shifts on the floor plus a few days worth of classes that cover hospital orientation (accudose, computer use, hospital policies, things all new hires need regardless of floor or experience). I'm also taking Level 1 and ACLS classes.

Orientation on my unit (Tele) is pretty flexible actually. I'll be working nights so chose to orient primarily on nights as well. My first shift all I did was observe. The second night I assessed a couple of patients, did all of their charting (but not meds) and did other stuff for experience as it became available (hanging blood, drawing labs, signing consents). The next shift I took two patients and did everything plus whatever additional experiences I could get in. As I have done more shifts, I have been taking on more and my preceptor is doing less. Currently I'm working on 6 patients but I still can't quite pull off doing everything for that many so I'm not ready to move to 7 just yet. This is different for everyone though, some people tackled more sooner or progressed faster while others went slower. Some people oriented with multiple people while others chose to be with just one person.

The biggest complaint I hear from staff regarding new grads is NOT related to ignorance (and make no mistake, all new grads are ignorant!) but that not all the new hires are taking advantage of orientation. You've got six weeks with someone at your side to answer all your questions and bail you out if you start drowning--take advantage of every learning opportunity you can! Any chance you get to start an IV, put in a foley, change a dressing, whatever, even on other patients, is an opportunity to master a skill you need. If someone dies, ask to help so that you can learn the procedures and paperwork. If there is a patient with something unique going on, ask to participate in the assessment. Do anything and everything you can to prepare yourself for working on your own.

I work nights ontele, graduated May 2009 and started Aug 2009. Orientation differs for all, but for me i started on days, that way i could meet some of the staff and doctors. First week was off the floor, taking general hospital classes. The started on the floor. Assigned to 1 nurse and worked her shift for just over a month. Started off just observing her, then had 1 pt, 2 or 3, until i had all 4 pts. And she was their to help out if I needed it. Then switched to nights with another RN. Started out with a few pts, until i had a full load! Again took a few classes such as EKG and ACLS. Both my preceptors were great.