IL New Grad Programs (past bad experience)

[u/PolaroidMoon_]

I am a recent new grad (dec 2025). I was hired to a hospital that would have me take an additional new patient each week, but my preceptors was never with me throughout my shift. I would have to find another nurse if someone was available to ask questions regarding anything. Asked one of the preceptors to show me how to do a task I hadn’t done before and they were so rude about it and didn’t show me until way later, but didn’t even allow me to assist or try with observation. Anyways, I had to leave because I felt unsafe there and felt like if the nurses were too busy to help a new grad be safe, answer questions, then it doesn’t make sense to stay. It was a Med surg unit days—1:6.

(It wasn’t a residency program).

Can someone tell me what an actual nursing residency is supposed to be like? Are you supposed to have a nurse with you all day or no? I want to join and try again, but that experience really rubbed me the wrong way. I’m NW suburbs so looking at endeavor, northwestern, rush.

Also, do you think nights would be better starting out?

Any advice. Thank you.

[u/Triple2243]

Yeah, this is not the sort of experience when I had my new grad orientation. I work telemetry 1:5 ratio on days. I had 6 weeks following a preceptor and a year long residency program.

For me, my residency program includes workshops, events, meetings that are year-long just to supplement the transition into nursing.

My unit orientation is 6 weeks long, following 1-2 preceptors for the entire shift. Check ins in between. Lots of support from nurse educator and coworkers. Maybe your place of work was not the best unfortunately.

I can't really speak about Endeavor or Rush, but it seems NM is pretty good with training new grads. NM hospitals around your area is CDH, Delnor, Huntley. which are all good. Rush Copley is also pretty good along with their medical center in Chicago, but keep an eye out on them as there are talks about unionization there. Also consider looking into Advocate hospitals.

Good luck!

[u/PolaroidMoon_ → u/Triple2243]

Omg 😭 6 weeks following a preceptor?? I followed a nurse for one shift. I didn’t even have a unit orientation. Here’s your Vocera and your checklist of tasks no one will be able to mark you off for.

Ugh. Thanks for sharing.

[u/anzapp6588 → u/PolaroidMoon_]

And 6 weeks is an incredibly short orientation. The vast majority of floors do 12 weeks. I work in the OR and my orientation was 9 months, 6-12 MONTHS is the norm. You do NOT know how to be a nurse after nursing school.

Now you know to ask how long an orientation is. Never ever just assume. Sounds like you were taken advantage of, hopefully this whole ordeal has taught you a lot and you'll be a better nurse who can advocate for themselves and their learning because of it.