My director hired some NGs some 6-or-so months ago. They seem not to be catching on. First of all, they're just slow, in general. They can't keep up with the pace of ED (discharged, admitting, charting). Second, they seem not to get bigger ED concepts. I don't want to be too specific, but I discussed this with a co-worker (who started their as a NG), and she's noticed it also - along with several others.
I know being a NG is difficult, esp in a specialty, but things seem to be worse than I'd expect from average NGs. We're wondering what it could be:
- the nursing school from where they came (different from the 2-3 yr old crop of NGs)
- orientation not long enough (3 months)
- orientation not thorough enough (then the blame lies with the preceptors?)
- our director just lets it slide when we confront him
- they're just not cut out for ED
- a little of each
I didn't start in ED as a NG (did 1.5 yrs on 3 different med/surg-type units), so I realize this gives me a very different perspective & advantage as well. I worked days for a large part of my 1st year in ED. There's another nurse who's new to ED like me, did some time in med/surg first (6 months?), but he's slow like the NGs also.
I know I'm not super nurse, but this has become very frustrating for me - and other nurses! I'm thankful I don't have to work with them much anymore because I often find myself picking up their slack, since that seems to be what's accepted & expected. My director seems unreceptive to my concerns (and those of others), so I've just given up on that altogether. :grn:
I'm curious if anyone else is experiencing this? Any suggestions?
My director hired some NGs some 6-or-so months ago. They seem not to be catching on. First of all, they're just slow, in general. They can't keep up with the pace of ED (discharged, admitting, charting). Second, they seem not to get bigger ED concepts. I don't want to be too specific, but I discussed this with a co-worker (who started their as a NG), and she's noticed it also - along with several others.
I know being a NG is difficult, esp in a specialty, but things seem to be worse than I'd expect from average NGs. We're wondering what it could be:
- the nursing school from where they came (different from the 2-3 yr old crop of NGs)
- orientation not long enough (3 months)
- orientation not thorough enough (then the blame lies with the preceptors?)
- our director just lets it slide when we confront him
- they're just not cut out for ED
- a little of each
I didn't start in ED as a NG (did 1.5 yrs on 3 different med/surg-type units), so I realize this gives me a very different perspective & advantage as well. I worked days for a large part of my 1st year in ED. There's another nurse who's new to ED like me, did some time in med/surg first (6 months?), but he's slow like the NGs also.
I know I'm not super nurse, but this has become very frustrating for me - and other nurses! I'm thankful I don't have to work with them much anymore because I often find myself picking up their slack, since that seems to be what's accepted & expected. My director seems unreceptive to my concerns (and those of others), so I've just given up on that altogether. :grn:
I'm curious if anyone else is experiencing this? Any suggestions?
TYIA
We all have to learn how to walk before we can run.
I stop reading your post at the second paragraph. it seems you detest these NGs. you might not want to accept it. All six ( if its true). I guess your nurses are very incompetent. The blame should be on you guys for not given them the proper training they deserve and with people like you who "pick up on their slack" made it even worst.
Being a new grad myself, it is very concerning that you would automatically place these RN's in such a negative light. I am sure they must be trying their very best seeing that 3 months orientation is DEFINATELY not enough time, let alone in an ER, but c'mon, I am sure when you started off as a new grad, even in med/surg you were scared, nervous and slow! Instead of picking up their slack, can't you be a mentor to them and tell them what they are doing wrong, or how they can utilize their time better since you seem to know the ways of the unit?
I am not saying be their best friend, but just remember when YOU were a new grad how nice it was to have an experienced nurse to depend on.
I hope their experience in your ER gets better.
Just to make sure I'm not coming off as a total b:eek:ch, many of us have tried to help them, and 1 in particular. She's not receptive to females, though. Saving the details, others in power haven't been receptive to our concerns either. Otherwise, they will get defensive when some of us offer help.
I *know* they are stressed out, but we're not just letting them flounder, although I may have painted it that way. When it comes down to it, esp situations in which patient care may be jeopardized, no one hesitates to step in! The problem is when they don't ask for help, and patient care is jeopardized... We can't help if we're unaware of the problem.
As someone who went to the ED as a new grad, I have to say that the ED (like Tweety mentioned) has to be 100% committed to the success of the new grad. I had about 14 weeks of orientation, plus an ED nursing fellowship (classroom/online training), plus five years as a medic and nearly four years as an ED tech in the same ED. I also had fabulous preceptors. And you know what? It still wasn't easy! I told my clin spec I wouldn't want to be a totally green new grad in an ED; it was hard enough with the experience I did have. Three months isn't enough for an inexperienced new grad. They just aren't going to have the skills in terms of big picture/prioritization/critical thinking.
These nurses need some mentors, methinks.
I think this was the point of my rant... It seems like the support from above & initial training just aren't enough - even for those like me who come in with some other prior nursing (and other real-world) experience.
I don't know if anything can be done at this point if management isn't receptive. Perhaps I should have phrased my initial post differently, but I really just want some suggestions on this going forward.
I DO remember how much it sucked to feel abandoned by experienced nurses - feeling eaten every single day because I didn't get it or was too slow. I loved the few who were willing to offer support. I'm trying. What else can I do though? I'm not looking to create an atmosphere of NG-bashing here. I'd love some real suggestions.
This is maybe why new grads should not start out in the ED. This is a problem not specific to your specialty, its happening everywhere. Why is working 1 year on the floor so repulsive to people?!? sheesh! It helps to hone your nursing skills so that you wont be sooo slow when you pick your specialty. No one is asking you to spend your entire career in med-surg, but a little time (even a couple months) will go a long way in preparing you in your nursing career. New grads are just so disgusted with the thought of spending any time on the floor! News flash: if you can survive a year on the floor, you can survive any specialty!
:) I love my floor nurses!
I hated the floor while I was there. But I'm thankful I did my time. I'm sure I would have been a burnout statistic if I've have stayed any longer, but I know it helped me develop my skills - esp time management. Having to learn time management AND critical care specific competencies is a big hurdle - ESP without adequate training and support. I'm sure I would have been incredibly flustered if I'd have started there as a NG.
(who started their as a NG), . I had to sign up just so that I could reply to your message. I have a big problem with someone who calls her fellow coworkers inept when that same person does not know how to write. Please try to help them instead of criticizing them, if they seemed to you as if they do no want to ask for help then maybe they feel that you are not being genuine.
I will direct some of these naysayers to read an excellent New Yorker article by the very esteemed writer/physician Atul Gawande's "The Learning Curve"
I stop reading your post at the second paragraph. it seems you detest these NGs. you might not want to accept it. All six ( if its true). I guess your nurses are very incompetent. The blame should be on you guys for not given them the proper training they deserve and with people like you who "pick up on their slack" made it even worst.
I know I've said what a lot of other nurses are thinking but are just too afraid to speak up about. I am not here trying to bash NGs. I was genuinely looking for some suggestions on how to go about making this better. I know they are struggling in large part due to a lack of training. I know I can't go back and fix that, so, instead, I am wondering what I can do going forward.
Hoping this was a safe forum in which I could vent my concerns while also looking for the aforementioned suggestions was clearly missed by some. Many thanks to everyone else.
I don't want to be an "eat my young" sort of nurse which is precisely why I was looking for suggestions.
(who started their as a NG), . I had to sign up just so that I could reply to your message. I have a big problem with someone who calls her fellow coworkers inept when that same person does not know how to write. Please try to help them instead of criticizing them, if they seemed to you as if they do no want to ask for help then maybe they feel that you are not being genuine.
Forgive my grammatical error. Despite my extensive background in English/literature studies, I still make occasional spelling/grammatical mistakes. I realize this has considerable bearing on my abilities, though, so thank you for pointing it out. I will flog myself mercilessly in just a few moments.
So, after all of this, I was speaking to a friend who works at the same hospital in a different department. I've come to the conclusion that inadequate orientation & lack of support from above (for NGs & the rest of us) is the biggest determining factor - because it's prevalent in other departments.
I love teaching. I've been commended many times by students, NGs, and even other experienced nurses. My frustrations seem to have been misunderstood (perhaps by my own doing), though.
I was hoping for suggestions to work through this - not responses by people who are taking personal offense, thinking I'm slamming NGs for being brain-dead or some other such nonsense.
I realize using the word "inept" probably had some negative impact on folks, but I was going for straight dictionary definition here: "without skill or aptitude for a particular task or assignment." No insult intended.
Thanks to those of you who were willing to understand what I was saying and offer suggestions. I do remember what it was like to feel like an abandoned NG. That's precisely why I was looking for some constructive input on how to improve the situation.
It would also be nice if hospitals gave some incentive to nurses who served as preceptors. You're right---adding the responsibility of mentoring a new graduate is simply too much for the nurse who is overwhelmed with a heavy patient load. The nurse who has clinical expertise may not have the skills or the temperament to teach others. Even worse, few nurses are taught how to be mentors and are given little support or direction when they're given the responsibility of mentoring someone new. The nurses being mentored often have little recourse against a bad preceptor or even one with whom they may have personality conflicts.
And then we wonder why nurses "eat their young"? It's just a vicious cycle of hazing or being hazed and it's a pitiful excuse for meaningful orientation.
What happened to you is a damned shame. You paid the price for the inability of your preceptors to teach you and your manager to recognize what was happening before it was no longer fixable. 90 days of orientation in the NICU is ridiculous. I am so sorry you went through this and that it has hurt your career. I hope it hasn't destroyed your dreams altogether...
My dream of having a life long career in NICU has yet to be destroyed, I am too passionate about it... However, it has been very difficult and right now the economy isn't helping matters any. Thanks.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
(who started their as a NG), . I had to sign up just so that I could reply to your message. I have a big problem with someone who calls her fellow coworkers inept when that same person does not know how to write. Please try to help them instead of criticizing them, if they seemed to you as if they do no want to ask for help then maybe they feel that you are not being genuine.
:welcome: to allnurses!! Why did you say iamanedrn doesn't know how to write?
BackfromRetirement
258 Posts
We all have to learn how to walk before we can run.