What is "orientation?"

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2006

The orientation is when you are teamed one on one with a nurse who is your preceptor. The time varies depending on speciality and place of employment.

I precept new grads and for the first day they just shadow, and then we take it from there. Often they've been techs at my hospital, or have had clinicals there so they are ready by day 2 to start taking a patient or two and continue shadowing me. Their load increases so that by the end of the 12-weeks they are on their own taking the full assignment with me standing by as a resource.

A good preceptor takes the individual into consideration, but by the end the nurse should be able to stand alone. Sometimes people need a few extra weeks of orientation.

Good luck!

MIA-RN1, RN · Jun 6, 2006

Yes, it is a somewhat silly question, but I'd like to hear from other new grad nurses exactly how your unit or institution prepares you for your role. How long are your orientation periods? What kind of resources do you have available? What is the expectation re patient load? Thanks for all replies!

I started my orientation yesterday. First it was for all new employees and went over general hospital policies/procedures (8 looooonnngg hours)

Today it was clinical staff only (nurses and techs) and more indepth. We did a mock code, watched even more videos and powerpoints on all sorts of stuff. Got lots of paperwork.

The rest of the week is the same. There will be some self-learning time on the hospital computers to complete some inservices, and we will spend time learning how to start IV's etc.

next week 4 out of 5 days I'll be on the unit. Im going into mother-baby, so I will have several days in the newborn nursery, special care nursery, with a lactation consultant and I am sure there is lots more that I don't know yet. I will be following my preceptor's schedule until the end of July. Then I meet with the NM and we decide if I need more time or if I am ready to fly.

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Jun 8, 2006

I know that at the hospital I'll be starting at, "orientation" is 2 weeks long - the first day is the general "new employee" orientation which will be general policies, procedures, benefits, filling out a boatload of paperwork, etc.... Then it moves to a CIS class where we learn the computerized charting and then it'll move to IV's/Blood draws and eventually to our individual units where we'll have a day or so to orientate to the flooor before we actually start our internships, hook up with our preceptors and then start working their schedule, but the first 2 weeks it's 8 hour days - 9-5.

lunakat · Jun 17, 2006

Our orientation is lengthy. We have 2 weeks of class stuff (hospital orientation, wound care, pain mgt ect. We Even got certified on peritoneal dialysis). The some of us have even longer class time (acls, Pals, Critical care course every thurs for next 10 weeks. One day during the 1st 2 weeks we do PDBS which is were we have to type out answers to many different clinical situation ranging form IV troubles, pt issues, communication between staff etc. Then based on our answers they arrange more orientation as needed (I hated the long test). Then we precept for about 4 weeks or longer depending on what we need. I am only on week 2 though. Have yet to work on floor. Good luck on yours though...

smilin_gp · Jun 18, 2006

The hospital I'm at has 6 total weeks, with 2 days of orientation to start and then clinical classes spread through it. Going into week 2 :) The expectation is that I am taking a full load by the end, but they haven't been pushing a full load in the first week.

sabrn2006 · Jun 22, 2006

At our hospital, new grads get 2 weeks in the classroom then about 8 weeks of preceptorship on the floor. This time can be extended though if needed. I just got through my first week on the floor and had a patient load of 3 at a time. I do all patient care, charting, admissions, discharges, etc. but have a preceptor to help with "new stuff". She watched me the first time I did things with her and after she is sure I know what to do, I can do it solo.

grambograham · Jun 25, 2006

It depends on the unit you are in. ICU and the same provide longer and more in depth orientations than surgical or general medical floor. Mine lasted a couple months.

AmyD_RN · Jun 25, 2006

I talked to my nurse recruiter at our local hospital and she said about 3 days of regular getting to know the hospital, cpr, iv, etc..... then it is 6mo min. on the floor for orientation. I thought that was long but good I think.

Not sure about the hospital I am interviewing at on Thursday. will let you know what they say!

AmyD RN