New-Grad programs?

Published

I will be graduating as with an ADN in December and have thought about getting a job with a hospital that has a new-grad program. What are the benefits of going through that versus going into a job that doesn't have one? For those of you who didn't go into one after school do you wish you had?

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Sure, it would have been nice to have had the opportunity to go into a new grad program. But the odds were not in my favor. I graduated right after the job market for nurses tanked, so jobs for new grads were very tight. There was only a couple of new grad programs in town, and both were filled up by internal hires/graduates of the hospital's nursing program. Relocation to an area with a better job market wasn't an option either.

So I did it the way that nurses have been doing it for decades long before I was even born: trial by fire. I got a job, dove in, asked a lot of questions, and did a lot of reading on my downtime. I made lots of mistakes along the way too.

Did it make me a better nurse than someone who went through a new grad program? I don't know.

Did a nurse who went through a new grad program turn out to be a better nurse than me? I don't know.

And there's no real way of answering those questions anyway.

A new grad program does offer extra training, support, and the chance to venture out into the first few months of your bedside career with a safety net of sorts. It also gives you a better chance of starting off in acute care and even in/closer to the specialty that you want to be in. So yes, there are advantages to being in one.

But a new grad program won't make you any more than not having one will break you. At the end of the day, YOU are the one who determines if you will succeed or fail as a nurse. You do that by what you make of the experiences you are given, whatever they are.

Definitely apply to new grad programs. If you can get yourself into a new grad program, that's great! If you're not able to get one, don't be discouraged--you're in a lot of good company.

And either way, remember that you're the one who ultimately controls what type of nurse you turn out to be.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I will be graduating as with an ADN in December and have thought about getting a job with a hospital that has a new-grad program. What are the benefits of going through that versus going into a job that doesn't have one? For those of you who didn't go into one after school do you wish you had?

"New grad programs" weren't a thing when I graduated over forty years ago. I went directly into Med/Surg. Since I was the first new BSN grad hired into a hospital where most new RNs were there own diploma graduates, I had a tough first year. I made it, though, learned a lot and stayed two years on that unit.

From what I know as a preceptor in a hospital that has a new grad program, the "new grad" part of the experience is a full year of "support group" meetings once a month where the new grads can connect with new grads on other nursing units and share their feelings as they transition from students into the role of nurse. If you don't find a new grad position, you will meet other new grads in the hospital orientation. Exchange phone numbers and keep in touch with them. It may be helpful to meet once a month for dinner, or whatever, to share tips, advice and feelings.

It may also help to identify a mentor or three in your new position. Meet with them regularly and informally (lunch, dinner or whatever) and pick their brains. Had your first incarcerated patient? What did you find in the policy about incarcerated patients? How would they have handled things differently? ACLS coming up? What should you spend your study time concentrating on, and what isn't worth the time? Having difficulty getting along with the veteran CNA? What do they recommend.

Even if you don't get a new grad position, you can get the new grad support; you just have to reach out a little more.

+ Add a Comment