New grad programs a new thing?

[PatchyPu]

I've never heard of all these new grad programs before I started nursing school. Is this a new trend in an attempt to hire/train new nurses for the shortage or has this been going on for some time?

[RNewbie]

There is no nursing shortage.

[PatchyPu]

So you focus on the flaw I'm my post and offer no help, no insight at all. Okay there is no shortage........ did that help answer my question?

[rebeccles]

Hey Denisenike,

I'm no expert, for sure, but I wanted to respond. My impression is that new grad programs used to be a big recruitment tool, but that employers have largely come away from relying on new grad programs over the last few years. Maybe they're coming back now?

[mihaSK]

here is an interesting article about RN new grad

Residency Programs Offer Benefits for RNs and Hospitals - NurseZone

This article explains some troubles that new nurses experience

Why Nursing School Grads Have Trouble Finding Jobs - Articles Archive - RN Jobs, Nursing Articles, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Bernardino

[perioddrama]

New Grad programs are essentially a residency for new grad nurses. New Grads get a mix of clinical hands-on experience and lecture.

Basically, it's to make sure that New Grads have time to become confident and comfortable on their own. After all, learning it in school is vastly different than the "real world."

They developed the Versant Residency Programs after finding that New Grads needed some additional "oomph" after graduating.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

New Grad programs are definitely not new. In the "olden days" new grads were provided with a longer orientation period than experienced hires but most hospitals didn't give it a name or turn it into a formal program. As time went on, the gap between new grad skills/knowledge and minimal competency got bigger.... due to a lot of factors ... so more effort was needed. The new grad orientation evolved into an extension of nursing school, complete with lectures, skills labs, etc. That's when they became "programs" called many different things (residency, internship, etc)

Now, the availability of a formal program seems to have become an expectation of every new grad. If so, the cost of these programs may mean that a hospital simply cannot hire any new grads.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

Let me preface by saying this is what I have seen. The hospitals that have the longer RN residencies or New grad programs seem to hire BSNs that have less clinical experience as opposed to the hospitals that hire ADNs and expect them to know certain skills. I probably am going to get bashed for it, but it is what I see here where I live. I have seen, in person, BSNs hired at a hospital that were expected to know things that they didn't know, whereas classmates of mine hired at the same time, knew more about skills and were "foor ready" sooner. As an ADN, I have compared my experience with friends that are BSNs and I have about twice the clinical experience that they have (and they have 3 times the theory/management experience). The New grad jobs are a gift and I would have loved to have gotten into one. They are wonderful programs.

[PatchyPu]

Everytime I see a New RN grad program, they require BSNs. It's a little dissappointing.

[sauconyrunner]

I dont think they are very new. I did one, and I have been a nurse for 12 years. But...It would not really be anything you'd hear of outside of school...

[elprup, BSN, RN]

New grad programs were cut May 2008. And the few that are left have new hundreds of grads competing for few opportunities. Lets see, my story..New Grad who moved 300 miles for only job offer after graduation. It didnt work out, after a few months they expected me to be a seasoned pro. So I moved again to only Versant Program area I could find. I got to the second interview and was disqualified because I had experience! So I did not have enough experience to be a Staff Nurse, but too much experience for a New Grad. I was sooo depressed! Still, every job wants one year of experience and will even state, No New Grads. There is NOT a nursing shortage, there is a loss of New Grad jobs. It really sucks!

[elgaE19]

I agree with you elprup... it breaks my heart to see RN job postings stating No New Grads please! A while ago I received a call from a recruiter, he said they'll call me again next year when I had at least 1 year experience...How sad is that! How I wish I'd know where to get a new grad program...