How does your unit handle new graduates?

[RNPATL]

Over the past few years, there has been a real shift in our new hires. I have noticed that we are not seeing many experienced nurses coming through the door. This has resulted in many more new graduates being hired. I love the newbie RN's and their compassion, vigor as well as fresh perspective and ideas. However, I am growing more and more concerned that we are going to have more new graduates (RN's with less than 1 year experience), than we have experienced nurses.

How is your unit handling this? My unit has a total of 3 experienced nurses on the day shift. Our manager has hired a number of new nurses (all are scheduled to begin over the next 3 weeks). Once the new nurses get on board (and I have to say I am thankful they will be here soon as we are sooooo short staffed), there will be more new grad nurses than seasoned nurses. I for one am going to thank them for coming to work with us and hope they stay and become a part of the experienced core team. :roll

What is happening on your unit and how are you all dealing with it?

[PamRNC]

So basically we have all new grads running the night shift on our floor and at times I've been put into the Charge role, which is something that I personally am not comfortable with at this point in my career! ---cbreezen482

Talk to your mgr, please. I know this is not going to go over well with the experienced day RNs and may cause a stir but your NM really should be floating/rotating some experienced RNs down to nights so that there is at least one experienced RN with you. Do you have nsg educators available at nights? One place I worked we had night educators who were the best resource and very helpful/concerned.

[cbreezen482]

Fortunately, yes, we do have night clinical supervisors who are there to help us or answer questions. Another advantage we have is that all of the new grads on my night shift (including myself) all went through Nursing school together. So most of us know each others strengths and weaknesses, which is pretty nice.