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  • 1.  Length of Orientation for RN's and MA's

    Posted 02-19-2024 08:12

    Good morning,

    I have some questions regarding length of orientation for RN's and MA's.  What is the typical length of orientation for RN's and MA's in your organization?  Does it differ if they have experience in ambulatory or not?  Does it differ if the MA is certified or not?  

    I appreciate your insight.  The resources I've found were fairly old and I'm looking to see if it has changed in the past 7-8 years.  



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    Melissa Dibble
    Ambulatory Education
    Connecticut Children's
    Hartford CT
    (860)837-5467
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  • 2.  RE: Length of Orientation for RN's and MA's

    Posted 02-20-2024 08:05

    Good morning Melissa,

    Our orientation is typically 6 weeks at a minimum (for inexperienced MA/LPN/RN), but longer if needed. I have found that for our more in-depth roles (nurse coordinator, nurse navigator, telephone triage), longer than 6 weeks may be needed. Especially with roles like telephone triage, you don't always encounter the complex calls in the 6-week orientation period, and it is helpful to have a resource available close by as they start to navigate situations on their own. We tend to treat nurses who have inpatient experience as "experienced" when coming to ambulatory and this does not usually serve them well. The practice setting is so different that even experienced inpatient nurses seem to need a full orientation when joining outpatient. 



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    Torie Bonnet MSN RN NE-BC
    Clinical Nurse Edu Specialist-Ambulatory Care
    UNC Health
    Raleigh NC

    torie.bonnet@unchealth.unc.edu
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Length of Orientation for RN's and MA's

    Posted 02-26-2024 08:59

    Hello, Melissa:

    The length of orientation for MAs, LPNs, and RNs at UK Healthcare is geared towards their experience and the opportunities that they are given during orientation.  I usually give the timeframe of 4-6 weeks for MA that is new to UK, but some finish sooner and some take more time.  For those that are transferring from clinic to clinic, they get a minimum of 2 weeks with an assigned preceptor.  At the end of those two weeks, we have a progress meeting to determine if more time is needed or if they are complete.  All are required to do a competency packet for their new clinic location.  We do not treat our certified and noncertified staff any differently; all are expected to complete the same competencies.

    For LPNs & RNs, it's relatively the same process.  I do not look at inpatient experience when developing an orientation plan, as the roles are so different.  We start with learning the clinic and caring for patients in the clinic, then begin introduction to telephone triage.  Nurses in most clinics will finish orientation in 6-8 weeks if they are new to UK; if they are transferring from inpatient, there are less orientations, and they may finish closer to 5 weeks.  For our infusion clinics, orientations tend to be longer, closer to 8-10 weeks.  Again, everyone is expected to complete a competency for their role regardless if they are new or transferring.

    We are doing progress meetings for all roles about every 2 weeks to see where they are and what still needs to be accomplished; that information is used to make decisions on orientation completion.  I hope that helps!



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    Patricia Hughes DNP RN NE-BC
    Chief Nursing Officer, Ambulatory
    UK HealthCare
    Lexington KY
    (859)323-4413
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    Original Message


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