WOW....just wow

Fiona59 · Jun 5, 2006

When I worked LTC (and I will never return to it). My orientation was three day shifts plus two evenings when I decided I wanted to work evenings.

The idea I think for most employers is "you are a trained, licensed, and insured healthcare professional, you know how to do the job, we just need to show you where you keep the stuff".

Orientation in my province is usually a week on the unit, and if you are in acute care, an additional two to five days refresher education course in surgical nursing, gynie, etc. Dialyasis is eight weeks classroom followed by two weeks of orientation shifts and then you are on your own.

Gone are the days of a six month training in period.

LTC brings out the best and the worst in people. The non-use of English in an English workplace drives many people insane, but no matter how it is broached racism is alway called.

BALLNVN · Jun 12, 2006

WOW....just wow

:nono: i don't know rather or not im making the right move here with this ltc job. my grief is they only trained me for two days and threw me to the floor that im assigned too. Does anybody know if this is right i know at other facilites i've seen the new nurses orientate as long as three months. I worked hard for these L.P.N license and don't want too loose them because they didn't give me enough orientation. Im gonna go tommorow too seek other employment not only did i not recieve the training that i need the health benefits suck (the pay is great) but i don't like the people i work with they just sit around and stare oh, not too mention no one speaks good english. well sorry so long but i just had too vent thanks for the listening eyes....lol

hello i just wanted to know what is considered "great pay?"

BALLNVN · Jun 12, 2006

wanted to know what is considered great pay?

suzanne4, RN · Jun 12, 2006

Thanks for reinforcing why I never recommend LTX for a new grad or a foreign nurse.

Drysolong · Jun 12, 2006

Thanks for reinforcing why I never recommend LTX for a new grad or a foreign nurse.

I am a new LPN grad who prefers the hospital, but so far, all the hospitals in my area that hire LPNs specify 1-3 years experience (sometimes specifically hospital experience)

Drysolong · Jun 12, 2006

i don't know rather or not im making the right move here with this ltc job. my grief is they only trained me for two days and threw me to the floor that im assigned too. Does anybody know if this is right i know at other facilites i've seen the new nurses orientate as long as three months. I worked hard for these L.P.N license and don't want too loose them because they didn't give me enough orientation. Im gonna go tommorow too seek other employment not only did i not recieve the training that i need the health benefits suck (the pay is great) but i don't like the people i work with they just sit around and stare oh, not too mention no one speaks good english. well sorry so long but i just had too vent thanks for the listening eyes....lol

I empathize with you. My first job was LTC (just last week) I had a four-day orientation 2 8-hr shifts and 2 12-hour shifts. I opted for another LTC where I started orientation today. My previous job was PRN (although I wasn't told it was PRN until I arrived for the orientation)

I didn't like LTC when I was in school, knew I didn't want to work LTC. I am now just trying to make the best of the situation and gain experience while I prepare to attend Excelsior for RN. The LTC's actually pay more in my area and the benefits are comparable to hospitals, but I still long for the day I go to a hospital to work. By the time I am an RN and have some experience, I feel I can be more particular about what job I accept.

tatgirl · Jun 14, 2006

Most orientations are at least 4 weeks long. I work in LTC and my orientation is 6 weeks. I am in week 5 and now am going to working the floor all by myself. There is an RN for me to go to with concerns or questions. If I found myself in the situation you are in, I would first go to the DON let them know of my concerns, and go find a job elsewhere. Good luck!

Wendy

luvmy2angels · Jun 14, 2006

I work LTC and am a new grad, we are being oriented for 2 months. We were hired for a new building that is opening up and so we are fortunate enough to have a couple months to train. We were told that we would not be made to work the floor until we were completely comfortable doing it. I love my job, and the people I work with. I started at a hospital right out of school and it was the worst experience i ever had, there they expected me to know everything, and how to do everything. It was too fast paced and no one wanted to train me. I am so happy where I am. My advice to anyone starting is to look around, interview with several places and find someplace that will give you the adequate orientation that you need and someplace you feel comfortable. there are places like that out there!!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2006

I started my very first nursing job in February 2006 at a nursing home, and was oriented only for a total of 8 hours. If a facility is short-handed and lacking staff, there will not be enough people to train new employees.

PhoenixGirl · Jun 24, 2006

Find a new place. THere is too much to learn that you just can't do on your own. You shouldn't be learning by making mistakes and learning from them, you should be learning from a good preceptor so you don't make these mistakes that new grads are vulnerable to.

I'm in an acute care hospital that deals with multi-system failure, lots of vent patients but we also do rehab (PT, OT). There is so much to learn. I have been there 2 months (new grad) and am probably going to be off orientation in July sometime. I've learned so much and the nurse educator is very proactive in getting new grads comfortable before going off orientation. Even experienced nurses get good orientation when coming to my facility. No the pay is not as great as if I would have went to some LTC place with little orientation, but I'd rather take the learning experience and lower pay in exchange for feeling more comfortable at my job.

Rebecca

mimismom · Jun 27, 2006

It varies fi you get a facility that is (hard up) they will orient you as little has possible. You have to like the staff you work with if not the stress will drive you out. The pay isnt everything. Its not worth working in a place you are uneasy with or uncomfortable.