Baby RN's running ICU?!!

[kmarieCCRN]

My particular unit has had such a huge turn over even in the last year that it is now mostly staffed with new grads on my shift (night shift). Baby, baby nurses are being thrust out and literally learning thru the trial by fire method. I have nothing against new grads in ICU, as I started out the same, but so many at once?? It scares me to death because it's a high acuity unit (level 1 trauma & teaching center) and it's the blind leading the blind! I've got 5 years ICU under my belt so I'm considered the seasoned one, but the thought of leading a unit full of babies freaks me out. It's a huge safety issue!

Are you guys having the same problems & concerns??

[momof3lv]

This is becoming a huge problem at the hospital I work with. Well i see it becoming a problem soon. Apparently there must be some secret initiative by management to only hire new grads or very inexperienced nurses with less than one year experience into the critical care areas. I'm assuming it's based on budget as they are cheaper but we all know you get what you pay for. I perceive a perfect storm soon as new grads are precepting the new grads and most of the floors are run by nurses with very little experience and they have no one to turn to for guidance. The thing that pisses me off is that with four years experience I keep getting passed over by these new grads for the critical care positions. But I'm sure management doesn't care what a disaster they are making as long as it doesn't affect their yearly bonuses.

[Salter444]

[ATTACH]16747[/ATTACH]

These labels devalue the novice nurse's achievement and the expert nurse's hard won abilities

I consider myself to be highly experienced and proficient, if only from many years of sheer repetition.

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Sorry, but longevity has very little to do with competence. You show up everyday and that makes you special? Expert comes from developing the skills and knowledge base and is more of an active process rather than just clocking in. Truth is some newer nurses have been taught the more recent EBP and the older nurses may not be keeping up on their skills.

Not bashing older nurses but I have seen those who continue to learn vs those who are just there for a check. Newer nurses are green, scared and usually eager to get started. they are perfect for molding into a proactive nurse. Critical thinking is what we look for in nursing not simply task performance.

[imbatz, BSN, RN]

As I new nurse, I actively sought out units where there were a large number of experienced nurses working. I found one. Except for the three new grad new hires (of which I am one), the nurse with the least amount of experience on that unit has over 5 years. Most have worked on my unit for a decade or more. Right off, I began experiencing some bullying - the being thrown to the wolves kind. I'm not thin skinned but it immediately made me wonder why there were no nurses who had only a year or two of experience.

[SweetSouthernLove, ASN, BSN]

You are an RN in a teaching hospital, people need to learn regardless of them being "baby" nurses or 1, 2 or even 5 years of experience like yourself. Learning is never ending in this profession and though you may be "seasoned" with years as a nurse, I can guarantee you that there is something right now on the unit you work on that you don't know, and that is perfectly okay. Nurses study endlessly in school, some are better than others, but every single registered nurse has earned their license the same as you right out of school and they should all be given the same opportunities as you once had.

My advice: Instead of signing in to allnurses to bring up a problematic discussion, go out of your way and welcome them, teach whenever you have a moment, and always make them feel comfortable. As a new nurse you are absorbing TONS of information, thinking and rethinking every step you take and every move you make. Nurses shouldn't have to work in constant judgment from colleagues. Also, as a "seasoned" nurse, critical thinking should have told you to do this, not another nurse. Nurse your patients, teach your colleagues and most importantly BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER.

[Cowboyardee]

You are an RN in a teaching hospital, people need to learn regardless of them being "baby" nurses or 1, 2 or even 5 years of experience like yourself. Learning is never ending in this profession and though you may be "seasoned" with years as a nurse, I can guarantee you that there is something right now on the unit you work on that you don't know, and that is perfectly okay. Nurses study endlessly in school, some are better than others, but every single registered nurse has earned their license the same as you right out of school and they should all be given the same opportunities as you once had.

My advice: Instead of signing in to allnurses to bring up a problematic discussion, go out of your way and welcome them, teach whenever you have a moment, and always make them feel comfortable. As a new nurse you are absorbing TONS of information, thinking and rethinking every step you take and every move you make. Nurses shouldn't have to work in constant judgment from colleagues. Also, as a "seasoned" nurse, critical thinking should have told you to do this, not another nurse. Nurse your patients, teach your colleagues and most importantly BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER.

Two points:

1) The problem is not the fault of the new grads in an ICU for applying to the job. It's the fault of hospital management for not recognizing the value of experienced nurses, especially in an ICU setting, and paying to retain them.

2) Lack of leadership and expertise in an ICU setting kills people. Full stop. I've seen it first hand.

I see no problem with a new grad hiring on in an ICU with a solid mix of expert, competent, and newer nurses. Everyone was new once. But if you fill an ICU with new grads, after a point there's as much bad information being passed around as good information. Again this is not a judgement on the newer nurses - it's not their fault. Nonetheless, it causes death and suffering. It's not a 'problematic discussion'; it's a serious problem that needs to be discussed.

[passionflower, BSN, MSN, RN]

"Instead of signing in to allnurses to bring up a problematic discussion"

I'm confused, I thought that healthy debates on any topic of interest to the 'debater' was part of allnurses. One can choose to respond on not.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

"Instead of signing in to allnurses to bring up a problematic discussion"

I'm confused, I thought that healthy debates on any topic of interest to the 'debater' was part of allnurses. One can choose to respond on not.

To which post are you referring? With 7 pages of posts, it is impossible to tell what post you are talking about unless you utilize the quote button located to the left of the blue like button at the bottom of every post. Doing so will then not only quote the post to which you are responding but also include a link to the original post.

Additionally, TOS states:

We promote the idea of lively debate. This means you are free to disagree with anyone on any type of subject matter as long as your criticism is constructive and polite.

There are limitations on what people are able to post, and some posts do indeed cross a line.

[passionflower, BSN, MSN, RN]

To which post are you referring? With 7 pages of posts, it is impossible to tell what post you are talking about unless you utilize the quote button located to the left of the blue like button at the bottom of every post. Doing so will then not only quote the post to which you are responding but also include a link to the original post.

Additionally, TOS states:

There are limitations on what people are able to post, and some posts do indeed cross a line.

I did quote the poster but the text was long and that line was the only one I was referring to. I come to this site because of the lively and varied topics of debate and it was my opinion that the poster was discouraging this with that comment. The OP was looking for a solution to a problem and did not say anything out of line in my opinion. I was not referring to inappropriate discussion which of course should never be tolerated. That is why I used the term "healthy" debate - meaning enriching, enlightening, lively, thought provoking, etc.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I did quote the poster but the text was long and that line was the only one I was referring to.

Simply highlight and delete any text you don't want to quote. Then we can still see the context without the long quoted post.

[Yuppers21]

Simply highlight and delete any text you don't want to quote. Then we can still see the context without the long quoted post.

Or follow the thread. Her post was literally the next post down. It was not difficult at all to know what she was referring to.