About those new grads----!!!!!

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i worked with a awsome one today. It was really enjoyable to work with her. And she taught me something new👍😃

We have another one in Versant training that I think will be every bit as awesome.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

I am working now with a new grad that just "get's it." She is so quick to pick up anything new that training her has been a breeze. She is not afraid to ask questions and also not afraid to point out things we can do better. I already trust her skills and nursing judgment more than that of some of the experienced nurses I have worked with.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.
I just came back from NSNA 2016 and I was so very impressed with the professional caliber of the students. They presented themselves as mature individuals, well-read, had very well thought out comments and were great representatives of themselves and their schools.
They are great!
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Specializes in kids.

I had a student nurse just the other day who was absolutely awesome. She asked relevant questions she looked things up without me needing to encourage her. She was curious, she was insightful and she's going to be a great nurse when she is done with her education and passed her boards.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, NICU.

I precepted a wonderful new grad recently! She was attentive, open to any learning she could get, and hard-working. And she certainly caught onto things faster than I did as a new grad. I'm excited to see her career because she has so much potential! She gave me hope for the future of my unit :)

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My concern is how many new grads are so stressed and anxious. They may even be the ones that are doing "great". I feel bad that some want to throw in the towel at 3 months, 6 months etc. I see a lot of these posts on Allnurses. I was a new grad a long time ago. I felt stressed, had a bit of diarrhea before each shift, but never considered giving up my position or nursing. Why are we seeing this? Are the students ill prepared, unrealistic expectations, not long enough preceptorship, not supported? Maybe a combination of all of these??

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Newly graduated RNs are a breath of fresh air. They look at things with different eyes than the experienced RN. They have not been hardened, nor are they STUCK in how things have always been done. They are willing to try something new, whether it be a different way of staffing, a new method of doing a procedure, a willingness to listen and participate.

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Thank you so much for this post. Im not done with school yet, but when I was a CNA the veterans treated most of us newbies as another headache. They complained that administration was asking them to do too much training. Perhaps the RN training experience is more positive. This thread gives me hope!

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Specializes in psych.
My concern is how many new grads are so stressed and anxious. They may even be the ones that are doing "great". I feel bad that some want to throw in the towel at 3 months, 6 months etc. I see a lot of these posts on Allnurses. I was a new grad a long time ago. I felt stressed, had a bit of diarrhea before each shift, but never considered giving up my position or nursing. Why are we seeing this? Are the students ill prepared, unrealistic expectations, not long enough preceptorship, not supported? Maybe a combination of all of these??

I'm not a real new grad but I just started as a new grad hire in an acute hospital. I'm still orienting but I feel queasy every shift. I've done 3 weeks so far, don't see myself quitting even though it can get stressful. I think there's a discrepancy in the expectations of the employer vs new grad. Sometimes employers are short-staffed and new grads don't feel secure in their own abilities and maybe don't feel they have enough support. I only dread the day when I'm off orientation and it gets busy, everyone else gets busy, and there's nobody I can ask for help. As long as there's someone with experience/knowledge accessible to me, I think I can make it.

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Specializes in Adult MICU/SICU.

Always be kind to new grads - we all started there too.

I still remember my very first preceptor writing a heartfelt warning in a card after my 6 weeks of orientation: "Be your own best friend, nursing is a field that eats it's young".

This was a warning I didn't take to heart, at my own cost.

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My concern is how many new grads are so stressed and anxious. They may even be the ones that are doing "great". I feel bad that some want to throw in the towel at 3 months, 6 months etc. I see a lot of these posts on Allnurses. I was a new grad a long time ago. I felt stressed, had a bit of diarrhea before each shift, but never considered giving up my position or nursing. Why are we seeing this? Are the students ill prepared, unrealistic expectations, not long enough preceptorship, not supported? Maybe a combination of all of these??

Speaking as part of Generation Y, I think that the expectations of new grads as to what a job should be like is unrealistic. We are told the world is our oyster and hard work will prevail, and you can find your ideal job if you're willing to apply yourself. That is not the case. That's just from my observations, though.

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Specializes in Psychiatric, Aesthetics.

Attitude is everything. Take a know-it-all new grad paired with an overworked, possibly crusty preceptor, who may or may not be getting a differential with the added stress, you get a negative experience for both.

Take two individuals with an open mind positive attitude and it's usually a win win.

I love the comments on this thread and advice from my RN friends and family. I hope to be able to apply it all someday!

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That makes me feel good. I'm a new grad working in a float/relief type position and at first I felt like a huge burden on the various wards.

I had a few shifts where people got irritable for asking questions like "where do you keep this" as each ward has different stocking protocols and if I wanted to sign out a pain med for a patient.

I am close to 3 months in and finding my feet. I'm getting good feedback from ward staff at the end of shifts. I know my own knowledge and skill deficits but I am getting there. I really admire experienced nurses with loads of expertise.

Point being, thanks for inadvertedly soothing the little paranoid voice in my head that says everyone hates grads.

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