New grad competency - what do you think?

Sour Lemon · Dec 20, 2018

These are very broad topics. Do you have a specific concern about where you're at? Or a specific situation?

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2018

"Socializing at work"? How is that a competency?

esrun13 · Dec 21, 2018

Just would like a general gauge of how quickly a new nurse would be accepted into the workplace if they were doing a good job, if they weren't, etc.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2018

Just would like a general gauge of how quickly a new nurse would be accepted into the workplace if they were doing a good job, if they weren't, etc.

I don't think that has anything to do with it. Someone could be a great nurse but have a personality that doesn't click with other nurses. And someone could be a terrible nurse but make friends easily.

I don't socialize with people from work so I don't really view that as a way to gauge anything.

caliotter3 · Dec 21, 2018

I have found that some people could do a little less socializing on the job and much more work. After all, when they don't complete their responsibilities, it usually falls on someone else.

AxelNewRN86 · Dec 22, 2018

So I have 6 months med surg experience (I did switch hospital systems so only a couple months at the current job). I find hospitals settings to be really too social at times. Like high school social. I don't need the drama. I just want to come to work, do my job and leave. I want to see myself become another nurse and feel supported by my peers... not judged. So socializing with peers at work in my opinion should be kept to a professional level. I mean I like having friends that are coworker, don't get me wrong. But where I currently work it is too much like high school politics that I have no interest in getting involved in social dynamics. But then again maybe that will change when I eventually switch units within the network I work. Other units seem to have been dynamics than my floor.

Confidence- I think you should start to feel confident in performing your role but never too confident to ask for help or continuing to ask questions. Over confidence can be a huge downfall when it comes to performing the job.

Understanding the big picture of the patient medically comes with experience. The more experience you have the more knowledge you can lean back on. That is why it is so important to always be asking questions from your peers and get their perspectives. It is a learning curve.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jan 16, 2019

On 12/18/2018 at 7:37 PM, esrun13 said:
After 1 year on a medical surgical floor, where do you think a new nurse should be in the following areas:
- Confidence
- Socializing at work
- Understanding the patient's "big picture" medically
I'm asking because I am a newer nurse (surprise surprise) and I'd like some opinions on where nurses with 1 year of experience are expected to fall in these categories, taking into account that obviously everyone is a little different.
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Everyone is a little different, but it usually takes about one year to become confident in your job, and about two years to become competent. Do you see the problem?

At one year, you should have a basic grasp of the big picture, and some idea of what you don't know (and where to find out what you need to.) You may not necessarily understand the nuances of the big picture, but you should have enough of a understanding about the basics that as you learn more, you'll understand how it fits into what you already know. That said, we're all learning, every single day. If you work a whole shift without learning something new, you're doing it wrong. And that is a problem with new grads with 1-2 years of experience -- they are confident that they know what they need to, but don't yet have a complete grasp of everything that they *don't* know. When you understand that, you'll have a good grasp of the big picture.

Socializing at work? It's important that your colleagues like you. It took me far too long to learn that, to my detriment. The sooner you learn it, the better off you'll be. Why is it so important? Shouldn't it be enough that I come to work and do my job and do it well? You would think so, wouldn't you. Unfortunately, that simply isn't enough. Sooner or later, you will make a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. If your colleagues like you, you can make BIG mistakes without losing your job or getting into serious trouble. If they don't like you, even a small mistake -- or a series of them -- can get you fired or ostracized.

Then again, you shouldn't be socializing to the detriment of your work. Smile at everyone, say hello first and act as if you like everyone, even when you don't. You may find your best friend forever at work -- I've been lucky enough to find a few of them -- but then again, you may not. And that's OK, too, as long as your coworkers like you.