for how long is new grad new grad???

DaMale Nurse · Jul 11, 2008

In my work place, an inpatient psychiatric hospital, I was considered to be a new grad for about 3 months. After that I was the charge nurse about 2-3 shifts a week. Although my boss and her boss both consider me fairly new they are not afraid to let me run the show alone on any unit in the hospital. After a couple more months now they transfered me to the adult admissions ward (a very hectic, lots of assault/seclusion/restrain ward w/ almost no medical issues) in order for me to really get some good experience w/ psychiatric patients. After a little more than 8 months they are now starting to talk about management classes for me to become a unit nurse manager. Although I am the exception to the rule (usually it's 5-7 years) before they start talking about promotion like that I have impressed them greatly. Even though I'm am still considered a "Kid"(28 yrs old, to there both 60+) they trust me to make the right call and to be able to manage my unit well. So it all depends on your bosses it terms of the "New Grad" label.

MelodyRNurse · Jul 11, 2008

So if you worked as an LPN before you worked as an RN then are you actually a "new nurse" or what? People call us new grads, but were really not, were new RNs.

imanedrn · Jul 11, 2008

Some responses to what a "new grad" is are more theoretical answers; they revolve around when you "know" certain things. If you're asking for the sake of a job application, though, that's a different story altogether. For example, at our local county hospital, you can apply for an "experienced" med/surg position after 6 months of med/surg experience, while they consider anything less than 6 months to be "entry level" or "new grad."

Most hospitals I've seen list 1 year of experience in any area as sufficient to no longer be considered a "new" grad. I'm approaching my 6 month mark, and I consider myself a "recent" grad now.

Again, it depends on WHY you're asking: for theoretical reasons (in which context you're learning throughout your entire career) or employment reasons (in which it depends entirely on the employer).