Hello. I am a new graduate RN. I have interviewed for a position & have some concerns about how they handle their training for new nurses. They say 2-3 days on their computer system, then the next day I will shadow a RN, then my next night to work I will have one pt on my own. Then every 3rd shift I will get an addition pt.
I am concerned because I do not feel like any of my skills have been mastered and I did not get to practice a lot of IV starts or blood draws, or any other skills during clinicals.
What do you guys think? Also, it will be for the night shift & they will have a charge nurse that does not have pts. Should I request more time to observe and “help” my RN before taking on a pt on my own? I surely do not want to harm the pt or jeopardize my license.
Any suggestions? It has been very hard for me to get offers as I am a new RN with no experience & a lot of places want at least 6 mths. So I am nervous, but I feel like this is where I need to get a start.
I’d appreciate any opinions or suggestions. Thanks again!
Tara
This question was asked in the nursing forum section.
S.L. Page says
Hey Tara!
Excellent question! I understand your concern. You have many factors to deal with because I know you desperately want the job. As a new nurse without experience, jobs are hard to find. So you don’t want to make anyone mad. But you do have to make sure you get enough orientation time. As a new nurse, you are required to know so much stuff, and it can be very overwhelming at times, especially until you get your routine down.
I know that for me (as a nurse with experience), when I switch jobs I get overwhelmed just learning the new patient population and environment. I usually get about a 2 week orientation. So I’m surprised that you are getting such a short orientation period being a new nurse graduate.
When I graduated nursing school, my orientation period consisted of being side by side with another RN for 2 1/2 months. During the last couple of weeks before I got out of orientation, I took the whole patient load myself and my preceptor just observed me. I am very thankful I had those 2 1/2 months of orientation.
The orientation you are getting is very short, and I definitely understand your concern. If I were you I would ask for a little bit longer time, but it is totally up to you. If you choose to not ask for a longer time, I would utilize every resource the place you works offer (education classes, etc). Also, develop a friendship with a more seasoned nurse on the floor to help you.
I felt so scared and overwhelmed on my own at first and was constantly stressing I was forgetting stuff….so if you do that it is totally normal. I wish you the best.
What does everyone else think?
Tara says
thank you so much for the reply! turns out that is not exactly how my orientation will go. I feel that was the answer a seasoned nurse gave in hopes it would run me off. I questioned director & she explained I will be shadowed by an RN when I do take my own pts for several months. Thanks again for all your advise! It will definitely be an experience & I cannot wait to begin helping patients!
S.L. Page says
Tara,
Thanks for updating me. I’m very glad to hear you will be getting a longer orientation than expected. Please let us know how orientation is going…I would love to hear about 🙂
Sarah
Jessie says
Requesting more time should be something you do. If you don’t get the proper orientation and feel comfortable on your own you are going to start feeling burnt out. I have seen it happen to too many new nurses. They were thrown out there way to fast and ended up quitting. I wouldn’t agree to it. Stand your ground!
Tara says
Thank you for your reply. It seems the orientation will be longer & different than what was told to me! whew! so we shall see how it goes! I start orientation next week!