zero support for new nurse

[The Bell Jar]

I am a new nurse and I have never had a mentor at my current job. "Orientation" was only a couple of days,and there were days when we were short staffed and I was just given a pt load alone. Now that "orientation" is over there are still certain skills that I never even learned in school or that I have seen in school but never done personally.When I ask for help/guidance from my charge nurse I get blown off.

I get told to go ask another nurse.That nurse then tells me to go ask the charge nurse,then about 30 or so minutes passes while I am begging,and thats what it turns into for someone just to come in just once to teach me or at least watch me so I dont do something wrong. And I dont even ask for this that often,its not like I am asking for this all the time or anything.

And I am tired of it.There are some charge nurses who are just awesome.They are there when you ask them,and are supportive,they make sure you grasp a new skill before you are left on your own.But not the one I have.

I literally feel like I have been thrown to the wolves.

[Roseyposey]

Run away, run far, far away.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

This is unacceptable and you need to stand up for yourself.

Head on over to Human Resources and take a look at the letter you signed - if you are still in your probationary period, quit. Otherwise, give two weeks notice and find another job.

steph

[PurrRN]

:yeahthat:

Also how long were you told your orientation would last when you interviewed for the job? If you got less than was discussed, you need hold them to their agreement or walk.

Just to give you an idea, new grad orientation at the hospital where I do clinicals is 16 weeks with a preceptor.

[arual56]

I don't know what kind of facility you work in, but our orientation at the hospital I work at is any where from 16 weeks to 6 months (longer if you need it). Don't think you have to put what you have worked long and hard for on the line because someone else can't keep staff, or a decent attitude, together. If they are so short handed that theyonly gave you 2 days orientation, that is a good sign that they treat everyone that way. You complaining may get you nothing but more trouble. Check your agreement. If you can, get away from there as soon as you can. If they don't care about you, or what you are, or are not, capable of doing yet; they don't care how it affects their pts either. If that is the case, you could be the one who ends up getting sued and they wouldn't think anything of it, as long as it isn't them.

[mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP]

Most places I have worked orientation runs anywhere from 12 weeks to 6 months depending on the area in which you work.

Even at my new job, where I work ER, and I've been an ER nurse for a year, I still got 6 weeks of orientation with the opportunity to extend it if I felt it necessary.

2 days is not acceptable.

You need to stand up for yourself and get the orientation that you need. If they won't budge, then it's time to walk.

There are a million jobs - you have just one license.

[haley4]

WOW I know how you are feeling. I am a new nurse. I had six day of orientation, and then was expected to be able to take an assignment with 50pts. I was so shocked. My orientation braley covered the paper work, I was expected to know how to do. My fifth day on the floor the nurse left me by myself, to go home. My relief was a hour and 15min late. I was told to call the DON if I had any problems. The DON made the comment she a nurse she can handle it. Later I found out she leftthe building 10 mins after we talked. So I was alone on the floor. What if something had happen, I've never ran a code before. And I had one hospic pt. I don't know if I maded the right decission, but I resigned. I told them more than once I did't feel comfortable taking a 50 pt load,and all they said is you can handle it. So now I'm unemployed looking for work. I want to get in at a hospital so I can get a good orientation, but most of them in my area don't hire LPN"s. So I don't know what to do. Any suggestions:o

[al7139, ASN, RN]

All I can say is that

1) I would be looking for another job, and researching carefully the orientation schedule, and work environment.

2) I would also consider alerting the proper people (i.e. State Board, Joint Commission, etc.) as to the "orientation" this facility gives to new nurses, especially if it is not what was originally promised.

There is no excuse for this, and it's not your fault, but unfortunately it's your liscense on the line.

I am a new nurse (7 months graduated), and my orientation was 12 weeks. Now that I am "on my own" I still ask questions, and there are still things I have never done, so I need to be mentored, and perform the skill with another more experienced nurse before I can do them independently and safely.

It is not worth losing your liscense over this. Find another job where they will take the time to orient you correctly, and still be supportinve even after you are off orientation.

Amy