Any advice for new grads?

TexasPediRN · Sep 12, 2007

Forget the rule that says "every new grad should have one year med surg experience"

Change it to "every new grad should have hospital experience".

There, much better!

I wouldnt recommend taking a private duty, hospice, or office job right out of nursing school. You need to get hospital experience, and if you want ICU/ER/Cardiac, then by all means, go for it. Mostly all units hire new grads with a long orientation period, and you will be fine.

As for delegation, I found it hard myself. I'm a young nurse who looks younger then I actually am. It takes a while to become comfortable with it, and as long as you dont abuse your CNA's and make them do every little thing, they will respond well to you asking them to do something. Its really just something that takes time, and you will eventually get used to it.

Good luck with your last semester of nursing school!

-Meghan

sabrn2006 · Sep 13, 2007

I agree that hospital experience of one year or more will open up many doors for you. What clinical experiences and settings have you liked? What topics have you enjoyed learning about? The answers to these questions are a good starting point.

The delegation part comes with time and experience. At first it is awkward. Newer nurses (of which I am still one) often struggle with time management and trying to prove you can do it all. In my experience, this becomes easier after 6 months or so. What you delegate and how will vary depending on staffing and the facility policies for various roles. Your preceptor may be able to give you more specifics.

Best of luck

traumaRNmelissa · Sep 15, 2007

I graduated in December 2006 and took a job in a large innercity ER which is also a level II trauma center (60 beds just in the ED). Do not let anyone tell you that you need to do a year of med surg. If you like med surg, by all means, do it. You will larn incredible time management skills! However, if you have an area that you really like (like me) go for it. I was terrified when I started, we have the sickest of the sickest in the ER. I mean, they have to be stabilized before they go to the ICU! :uhoh21:

I think the key to to find a unit or hospital that is confortable with new grads and is willing to be patient and leave you on orientation as long as you need. Do not allow them to rush you off orientation becuase they need the staff.

If you choose to work in an ER or ICU, you will need a longer oreintation because there is SOOO much to learn. I have been off orientation for several months and still learn something new every day. I caught a lot of slack from some of my other classmates who took jobs on med surg, peds or L & D units who were on orientation for 6 weeks or so. I was on oreintation for about 6 months(as were the other two new grads I started with) and I kept getting, "you're STILL on oreintation! What is WRONG with you?"

I absolutly LOVE my job and cannot imagine working anywhere else. Please do not be intimidated by the ICU or the ED. They are both wonderful places to learn skills that you can take anywhere in your nursing career.

Good luck with your last semester and don't stress about the NCLEX, it's really not that bad!

charmedville21 · Sep 17, 2007

Hi trollmama and evryone here! I just got my RN license yesterday and will be applying for work this week and undecided what area to choose coz some say that Med Surg is a good place to start for experience which I need more of. Some say med surg is a toxic area.But I don't know, I wanna consider another area maybe like Renal or Neuro coz they do accept new grads in the special area probably due to the short staffing.

LesMonsterRN, ADN, RN · Sep 18, 2007

Hey, don't count out LTC! :chuckle

My opinion? If you're not sure what area you'd like to end up in, go for a med-surg position. If you do know what makes your motor run, go for that.