What's your definition of orientation?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Hey everyone. Just seeking advice. So, I recently got a new job at a LTC facility. I'm a new LPN, no experience. When I was hired I was told I would get off of orientation when I was "comfortable". (Yeah, laugh with me. I'm sure you know where this story is going...lol). Well I worked night shift. I orientated TWO days on day shift. Just observed. Did no skills at all. So I get to my first night shift of "orientation " and I am handed the keys to my very own cart and my supervisor tells me if I need help just tell her. Wait, HUH????? I tell her I'm not suppose to be on my own until I'm comfortable. And then she starts asking the nurses at nursing station, "how many days did you get on orientation". And everybody said 2 to 3 days. I'm basically in shock. I go along with it, because I don't want to come in causing problems. It took me 3 hours for one med pass and the incoming nurse was upset cause I was late with report because I wasn't done with everything. So it was a horrible night to say the least. The next day I call the DON and tell her I need more orientation she says "you are in oreintation". I was thinking this damn sure CAN'T be orientation. I told her I was on my own last night. She says she apologizes and will fix the problem. So that next night they put me with a "preceptor ". She basically just sat in a chair and was on her phone all night and just WATCHED me do my med pass. Is THIS orientation????? Did I get a proper oreintation? As I said, I'm a new nurse. I've never had orientation So I'm not knowing what to expect. Is this the definition of orientation in the nursing world? Feel free to comment. Feedback needed. Thanks! :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

When I did orientation in LTC, there was a huge, 2-sided med cart. The orientation was that I got on one side of the cart, and the other nurse got on the other side. All she did to help me was to point out the residents to me and told me whether or not the meds needed to be crushed for each one. Oh, and little tips like "she likes a Tylenol with her meds", or "put his in pudding instead of applesauce".

In my experience, LTC has always had a sink-or-swim orientation. Even as recently as early 2015 as I waited for my state job offer to finalize, I took a weekend position as a supervisor. During that orientation, (after the classroom video days were done), I was told I needed to orient on the med cart. It was not my plan, but ok. During that process, I watched the LPN give a couple of meds at the end of her med pass that morning. Then at lunch, I was handed the keys and directed to the cart. I didn't even know ANYTHING about the patients, where they were, meds crushed or not.

And what about my duties as a supervisor??? Didn't take long to figure out why this facility was in need of a supervisor!! I survived the day and when I got home, I signed on with a travel agency for a short-term travel assignment. I resigned the next day from the LTC....never made it to the weekend. I didn't feel like sinking and have not yet learned to swim.

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Not to say that it's right, but 3 days orientation in a LTC setting seems to be pretty typical from what I've seen in the past. I had 11 years prior experience in several others areas of nursing, just not LTC, and got three days. A new grad hired about six months later also received 3 days (and the first two were shadowing an aide, not a nurse). Personally, I would never have felt comfortable being thrown out to the wolves like that with no experience, but when it's hard to get a position fresh out of school I guess some are trying to make it with the crash course transition from nursing student to actual nurse that some companies are getting away with calling an orientation.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

In the neck of the woods where I live, three days of orientation for new grads is the norm in LTC.

I received one 8-hour shift of orientation when I was a new grad LVN in LTC. I was supposed to have received three days, but the nurse who was 'orienting' me became sick on days two and three.

What is my definition of orientation? It is a brief time period to learn the paperwork, work flow, routine, and location of everything. It is not the time to learn all the procedural skills you did not cover in nursing school. Ain't nobody got time for that.

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Oh my gosh! Sounds like my experience when I passed my boards in January 2012 and landed my first job in 2012. Needless to say my "orientation" was 2 DAYS WITH A GIRL I GRADUATED WITH!!! And thank God I was there she was trying to give 2CCs of insulin to a resident! 3rd day was with the CMT...I worked there for 4 months and I havent gone back to nursing since, I've been practicing my Massage Therapy instead. It's great when they don't tell you how to fill papers out or talk to the doctors! I'm scared to go back into the field thinking this is how it will always be and i am supposed to be looking after and saving these people if something goes wrong and I am not even prepared!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
In the neck of the woods where I live, three days of orientation for new grads is the norm in LTC.

I received one 8-hour shift of orientation when I was a new grad LVN in LTC. I was supposed to have received three days, but the nurse who was 'orienting' me became sick on days two and three.

What is my definition of orientation? It is a brief time period to learn the paperwork, work flow, routine, and location of everything. It is not the time to learn all the procedural skills you did not cover in nursing school. Ain't nobody got time for that.

:roflmao:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
Oh my gosh! Sounds like my experience when I passed my boards in January 2012 and landed my first job in 2012. Needless to say my "orientation" was 2 DAYS WITH A GIRL I GRADUATED WITH!!! And thank God I was there she was trying to give 2CCs of insulin to a resident! 3rd day was with the CMT...I worked there for 4 months and I havent gone back to nursing since, I've been practicing my Massage Therapy instead. It's great when they don't tell you how to fill papers out or talk to the doctors! I'm scared to go back into the field thinking this is how it will always be and i am supposed to be looking after and saving these people if something goes wrong and I am not even prepared!

Your fear of harming a patient is what would probably turn you into an excellent nurse!:yes:

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

The day shift nurse was angry with you because things were late? Practice saying this: "Be patient with me; I'm orienting." If you play your cards right, you can still say it a year from now and get away with murder. :yes:

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You're right it's not to learn every skill we didn't learn in nursing school. BUT I do believe 3 days, or 2 like I was given is BS. Especially when I'm working with things I've never worked with before, such as trachs and vents. I guess I just expected some form of training in those areas but I didn't receive it. Needless to say, I've found another job and went PRN at this one. Thanks for your input though. Lol

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my first orientation lasted 3 weeks on day shift, working 24 hrs a week. That included the hr stuff and mandatory online courses. My second orientation was about 2 weeks on midnights, about 3 years later... Now, at the same LTC facility, nurses get 2 weeks with a couple different nurses over the building to get a feel for the job. Rehab, where I'm at, is different... they get 2 weeks of days full time and 2 weeks of nights full time. (I'm a night shifter) Even after that, we keep an eye on our newbies and offer extra help when we can. Because it's HARD! No one should be thrown in feeling lost or alone.

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

This is insane. I'm a new grad and I'm getting 4 weeks.

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This is insane. I'm a new grad and I'm getting 4 weeks.

Wow, lucky you. I get two days of 'classroom' orientation and I get to follow a preceptor for 3 full night time shifts. This all starts next week lol :up:.

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