Does your facility hire new grads into L & D?

netglow, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2011

Thing is with that, nurses don't get to make those decisions anymore. The facility has most control over that. It's about money usually. Last year there were some facilities in my area hiring NGs for ICU, ER, LD almost exclusively - but turned out the NGs were not supported much with the length/quality of training needed to even have a chance to be good. I felt that, it was a test to see if "any monkey can do the job of a highly paid specialist". Yes, as in anything, some could. But most miserably failed and were treated like **** and fully blamed and hung out to dry as if they had somehow lied to management about their experience, when in fact everybody knew they were new grads. Lots of these nurses really suffered from this abusive treatment.

Some still try to see if they can save money and not hire the experienced specialty nurse. NGs are available by the thousands and they will can you way before your orientation is over if you don't fit their bill.

So, Op it's hard to tell. Unless you actually know nurses on the unit, or did clinical there and really paid attention to who the new hires were and how they were fairing you will not know what kind of situation you're getting into. You want to ask how many NGs from last year are still on the unit, etc. But, NM/HR will lie if they have bad stats, so it truly would be a gamble, you just have to see if you want to take a chance. You will know very quickly, what's what as soon as you are on the floor.

ktliz · Jul 23, 2011

Sorry, onaclearday, but I don't think it's appropriate to compare new graduate RNs to "monkeys."

rn/writer, RN · Jul 23, 2011

She wasn't comparing new grads to monkeys, but was saying that management sometimes has this attitude that you could train a monkey to do the job. It's a popular myth among the upper echelons that if they could get away with training monkeys (who, after all, will work for peanuts) and didn't have to shell out big bucks for the expertise of experienced nurses (or other staff members) that it would save the company oodles of money and they would then become heroes.

We've seen how that turns out. :down:

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 23, 2011

Yes, our facility has an extensive nurse residency program and we hire half a dozen new grads every year. I was a new grad hired into OB myself, so it would be hypocritical for me to complain about it. I have no problem with new grads.

rn/writer, RN · Jul 23, 2011

Yes, our facility has an extensive nurse residency program and we hire half a dozen new grads every year. I was a new grad hired into OB myself, so it would be hypocritical for me to complain about it. I have no problem with new grads.

Ah, but there's a huge difference between a residency and an orientation. I don't know about your program, but all the residencies I've heard and read about include a heavy educational component and offer much more support than a typical orientation. The chances of success for both the new nurse and the employer go are much higher with a true residency.

How long is the residency program at your facility?

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 24, 2011

One year. Where I was hired as a new grad, it was just a typical "new grad" program.

obenfermera1 · Jul 25, 2011

Yes, my facility repeatedly hires new grads into L&D and repeatedly beats them into the ground until they quit, have a nervous breakdown or somehow manage to struggle through the trenches despite it all. Usually 4-6 get hired every year, maybe one, two MAX get through orientation. A great many of those wind up leaving within a year. I don't have a stance AGAINST new grads coming to L&D as I was one 16 years ago- NOT at my current hospital though ~shudder~ It's just that they are so often treated unfairly with unreasonable expectations and sometimes put in dangerous situations. We typically have 90 days for new grad orientation and more if they don't pass snuff after that, but it's very fractured and inconsistent. It's a hospital-by-hospital call, but once you've figured out you're in a new grad meat grinder it's too late! So sad that we still have managers that just see warm bodies versus seeing an opportunity to invest in a human being. What you put into them is definitely what you get out!

Hushi05 · Jul 25, 2011

We hire new grads all the time. I'm used to it. I don't mind new nurses; most of them are very intelligent, eager to learn and passionate about the work we do. I was hired as a new grad, and I had great preceptors. I'm very grateful.

AprilAZRN · Jul 27, 2011

We used to, I was one! At that time they hired 4-6 a yr and we did group educational stuff, time on the floor, etc... I also had to sign an agreement I'd work full-time nights for 18 months. But we don't do it anymore. I think it's been 3 or 4 yrs. We do take new to L and D RN's, and they get around 3-6 months with a preceptor to learn the specialty.

Nurse2b7337 · Aug 3, 2011

Is anyone on here from Atlanta? This is my specialty of choice. I am wondering if the hospitals in Atlanta hire new grads. I don't know how they expect us to get experience if we get an opportunity anywhere to learn.