Worried about the orientation I am receiving

[janis9799]

Just for background, I did really well in nursing school and in my clinicals. Was always described as organized, good assessment skills etc. I was also a cna for over two years.

I just started at a hospital that told me orientation for ICU was 12 weeks. The first two weeks was hospital orientation, then we started a critical care course that is five weeks long, twice a week, eight hour days. This class used to be twice as long and this is the first time they have condensed it. We are also working a 12 hr and 8 hr day with a preceptor to make up our 36hrs. Most of us are not doing well in the class. Some people have failed one or both of the tests.There seems to be too much information at one time to be able to memorize by the time test time rolls around usually a week after they have taught the material. They are really disappointed in us and think we aren't studying or that they are not teaching well. They asked what the problem seemed to be and when we all said it wasn't enough time to absorb all the information we were told we needed to be organized as critical care nurses and basically told us when we said that the class used to be longer that the hospital cut the class time because of $$. Basically they didn't listen to our input and said too bad. And threatened that if we didn't do better that our managers who get our scores may not keep us for the unit.

Also if you failed any test you either did a remedial packet for the dysrhythmias test (most failed due to the test having 160 questions and 90 minutes to take the test...measuring strips was the bulk of the test) or if you failed the second test you had to retake the very same test over to pass. Wondering how people really learned anything by doing that. Then I was pulled aside (on the floor I am one of the stronger new grads) and the educator said they wanted me to be on my own by the first week of Oct. Three weeks earlier than I am supposed to be. I failed the first test because I ran out of time and didn't answer all the questions, and barely passed the second test. I am scared this is too soon, and worried my lack of readiness could hurt someone. I am partially hoping in a month I will feel better...but with our preceptors having three patients most everyday it is hard to really go over things. Am I whining or are my feelings valid?

[llg, PhD, RN]

Your feelings are completely valid.

If I were you, I would be investigating other options. Does your hospital have any openings on a less intensive unit? It sounds as if they are not willing to invest in a good new grad orientation for the intensitive care units anymore. If they are not going to help you sufficiently with your transition from student to professional, then you need to find somewhere else to work.

However, if this unit/hospital is one that really appeals to you, I would try to stay within the same hospital system if you can. That leaves the door open for you to return there once you get your clinical skills more thoroughly developed. Once you get some experience behind you, their orientation program may not be so overwhelming to you.

Also, I would be sure to remain polite, friendly, enthusiastic, etc. ... but be clear as to what your needs are and why you are leaving. Make sure they know you want to stay and be a staff nurse there, but that you are leaving because you need more time to become ready to work on your own without a preceptor. If they can't give you that, then you must go somewhere else to get that time -- and that you hope to return once you have gotten the learning experiences you need to be successful and safe.

Good luck!

[NoviceToExpert]

I feel your pain... I had an orientation of good length that prepared me... but much of it I was on my own with my preceptor as a resource, and my unit was a fairly hostile environment at the time and I near left...If you are doing three shifts a week and you have time to fill in with studying and you did well in school you can make it work despite the failings of the institution... but you need to make some allies on the floor and know you have a strong support network with colleagues... ask ask ask ask ask... I recommend David Woodruff's critical care orientation audio cds and notes binder (Ed4Nurses.com)... then go on icufaqs.org, which is free and will give you a lot of information... get Dale Dubin's book on EKG Interpretation... latest edition is fluorescent orange on the cover... excellent... bring a critical care text to work in your bag... or something like Kathleen White's Fast Facts for critical care nurses, http://fastfactsforcriticalcare.com/J/

And post here for anything you want to know...

You can do it! But if you really feel unsafe and the pace is too fast without enough support... then move on to somewhere more supportive.