New Grad working in a registry

[juliegrace]

Im a new grad and no luck so far with hospital jobs. However, someone can hook me up to work in a nursing registry. I'm thinking of doing that instead to gain experience. It's kinda scary but I'm willing to do it. Does anybody have success stories about new grads working in a registry? I know its possible, but what should I expect? How hard is it?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

In the US, it's a well-known fact that the nursing educational process is not sufficient to ensure that new graduates are clinically competent. Employers are expected to provide some sort of "transition to practice" support for new grads - which can vary from a formally structured residency to informal on-the-job training with a preceptor.

If a registry can provide this type of support, there would not be a downside to beginning your career in this environment. However, I have never come across a registry that is equipped to support new grads in this way. BTW, organizations require an agency/registry to provide accurate cv/resume for any nurse that they are supplying... and it's extremely unlikely that they would accept a new grad in this role because registry nurses are expected to "hit the ground running" with only a very brief operational (emergency codes, location of supplies & meds, etc) orientation.

Wishing you improved job-hunting MOJO

[juliegrace]

In the US, it's a well-known fact that the nursing educational process is not sufficient to ensure that new graduates are clinically competent. Employers are expected to provide some sort of "transition to practice" support for new grads - which can vary from a formally structured residency to informal on-the-job training with a preceptor.

If a registry can provide this type of support, there would not be a downside to beginning your career in this environment. However, I have never come across a registry that is equipped to support new grads in this way. BTW, organizations require an agency/registry to provide accurate cv/resume for any nurse that they are supplying... and it's extremely unlikely that they would accept a new grad in this role because registry nurses are expected to "hit the ground running" with only a very brief operational (emergency codes, location of supplies & meds, etc) orientation.

Wishing you improved job-hunting MOJO

The only training the agency could provide me is to work with someone (which is the person who helped me get the job) from the same agency. I will have to work with that person same shifts and unit until I will be able to manage on my own.. However, I will have my own patients and that person will have her own patients too. She could answer my questions and teach me procedures that i dont know, but she wont be able to stay with me all the time.. What do you think?

[firstinfamily, RN]

It is still a risk for you as a new nurse. I worked a registry that was associated with a hospital, not in the home, which was a good fit for me. You have to know how to respond to an emergency and would you feel comfortable in that situation as a new nurse?? Because I was employed at the hospital where I was on a registry for private duty services I knew the policies and procedures, I knew how to activate the emergency response system etc. I was not a new nurse at the time, but only a little seasoned. You really do need to have more experience to be wholly on your own.