You got to take the bad with the good, even in travel nursing!  Now I’m not saying that orientation is not good, but if you move every 13 weeks (and those 13 weeks get shorter and shorter with each move!), well, orientation can tend to be repetitive (yawn!).  However, if you approach it with the right attitude, you can make the best of it and even have a good time.  Your listening skills will come in very handy!  Also, many hospitals give you valuable written material during orientation–like a map of the hospital and employee parking areas.  (I learned  the hard way after getting two parking tickets from the hospital ‘police’ for parking in the wrong section/lot–they were both dismissed however.)  Orientation also gives you a chance to meet people from other departments like maintenance, housekeeping, food services, etc. and because you WILL float, it’ll feel good to see a familiar face and ask how they’re doing.  Many times hospitals will offer CEUs for some of the nursing classes they have during Orientation, which are always good to accumulate. 

Orientation to the floor can be trying at times.  What I’ve learned to do when I first meet my preceptor is to tell her my nursing experience (so she doesn’t ‘precept’ me like a new grad) and suggest that the areas I need help with will pertain to the daily operations of the unit (phone system, charge nurse responsibilities, call light system, meds/MARs, patient charts, resource manuals, P&P, supplies, linens, etc.), operations of the hospital (computer system, documentation,  MD/employee phone lists, etc.) and hospital equipment (patient beds, CODE carts, IV pumps, Pyxis, med carts, etc.).  And each orientation shift, try to take over more and more responsibilities–your preceptor will appreciate it and you will be on your own sooner!