New grads are expensive...really?

[ThePrincessBride]

Can someone explain how new grads are an expensive investment?

My orientation was barely six weeks on the floor and two weeks of corporate and computer training (all the paper work and stuff). I work with a nurse who isn't a new grad but took ten weeks of orientation on the floor. All nurses have to go through computer and corporate training regardless of experience.

I have a once a month residency program that lasts one year. It is literally a few hours of lecture and discussion.

I don't get how new grads are expensive unless they are getting way more orientation time. On my unit new grads get a slim six weeks usually. That's it. Are there any other hidden costs that I don't know about?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

HOLD THE PHONE I cannot believe PP wrote "When hospitals are business and nurses are a financial drain....." Nursing care is the ONLY reason that hospitals exist.... if a patient does not need 24X7 nursing care, s/he will be treated in an outpatient setting. Sorry, just had to get that out of my system. Labor is (and should always be) the highest expense in any service that is based upon the human touch. When the cost of care providers is lower than other 'extraneous' services, there is something fundamentally wrong with that organization.

There are many different variables in the 'cost' of employing new grads, these variables have been documented ad nauseum in the literature. Debate about this issue is a moot point. At the same time, employers realize that the supply of COBs and 'experienced' staff is very limited.... as evidenced by the fact that recruitment bonuses are back. So, even though the on-boarding of new grads is expensive, it will continue to be essential for organizations that want to keep their doors open.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

HOLD THE PHONE I cannot believe PP wrote "When hospitals are business and nurses are a financial drain....." Nursing care is the ONLY reason that hospitals exist.... if a patient does not need 24X7 nursing care, s/he will be treated in an outpatient setting. Sorry, just had to get that out of my system. Labor is (and should always be) the highest expense in any service that is based upon the human touch. When the cost of care providers is lower than other 'extraneous' services, there is something fundamentally wrong with that organization.

There are many different variables in the 'cost' of employing new grads, these variables have been documented ad nauseum in the literature. Debate about this issue is a moot point. At the same time, employers realize that the supply of COBs and 'experienced' staff is very limited.... as evidenced by the fact that recruitment bonuses are back. So, even though the on-boarding of new grads is expensive, it will continue to be essential for organizations that want to keep their doors open.

Because Nursing care is lumped in with the daily room charge, Nurses don't make any money for the facility. As such, they are a HUGE money suck.

Until bedside Nurses are able to bill for their services (like MDs, PAs and NPs), they will be seen as a financial liability. This is not new.

[Larry3373]

My services are billed for. Every time I give any IV push for example, say Dilaudid, the patient is billed 300 dollars. It's silly to say that nurses are a drain of resources, because we are valuable. We help prevent lawsuits, for example. Let us walk our of that hospital for a day and then we'll see what happens with revenue.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

My services are billed for. Every time I give any IV push for example, say Dilaudid, the patient is billed 300 dollars. It's silly to say that nurses are a drain of resources, because we are valuable. We help prevent lawsuits, for example. Let us walk our of that hospital for a day and then we'll see what happens with revenue.

Wrong. You may think your services are billed for, but they aren't. If that $300 med charge were to be itemized, nowhere would you find "charge for the Nurse to draw up and administer medication".

Nursing services are not itemized. Therefore, they can't be billed. That's a fact.

Saying that Nurses are integral to the continued functioning of a hospital is another discussion.

Hospitals have been trying to cut down on the number of Nurses on staff, if not eliminate the floor Nurse altogether for decades.

Back in the 90s, there was talk of expanding CNA roles to include Foleys, IV insertions and lab draws. There was also talk about a position called "Certified Medication Aide". These CMAs would be responsible for passing most, if not all meds.

There would be 1-2 RNs per unit (this was acute, NOT critical care-I have no idea what would have been planned for them). These RNs would basically be "desk Nurses", doing important things like care plan updates, notifying MDs of labs and tests, and taking orders. Oh, and making sure the CNAs and CMAs didn't kill or injure anyone, since the RNs would be responsible for anything the unlicensed personnel did.

Fortunately, more rational heads prevailed and it didn't happen. But they're still trying. Does anyone still really believe that 12 hour shifts were developed for "continuity of care"?

Still think that hospitals give a rat's furry butt about quality Nursing care? Walkouts barely register, because there are always Nurses willing to cross the line and management is pressed into service.

[flyersfan88]

HOLD THE PHONE I cannot believe PP wrote "When hospitals are business and nurses are a financial drain....." Nursing care is the ONLY reason that hospitals exist.... if a patient does not need 24X7 nursing care, s/he will be treated in an outpatient setting. Sorry, just had to get that out of my system. Labor is (and should always be) the highest expense in any service that is based upon the human touch. When the cost of care providers is lower than other 'extraneous' services, there is something fundamentally wrong with that organization.

There are many different variables in the 'cost' of employing new grads, these variables have been documented ad nauseum in the literature. Debate about this issue is a moot point. At the same time, employers realize that the supply of COBs and 'experienced' staff is very limited.... as evidenced by the fact that recruitment bonuses are back. So, even though the on-boarding of new grads is expensive, it will continue to be essential for organizations that want to keep their doors open.

It was a sarcastic, tongue in cheek comment to illustrate the point that the hospital CEOs that know nothing of bedside care are willing to cut our needs left and right. I never said our jobs were not important and never undermined anything we do. It is simply how many hospitals view nurses-money sucking staff that don't bring in revenue. People post similar points on here all. The. Time

Why is it suddenly now an outrage?

[Sulyan, BSN]

I'm going to start my new job in one week in telemetry unit. I'm a foreign educated nurse, with not experience as RN in the US. However I was told that I'll received only 3-4 weeks of orientation. I had work as RN in my country 1 year at a hospital and 1- 1/2 as a community health nurse. It was 4 years ago. They are hiring me as a new grad and my salary will be as a new grad.

[AJJKRN]

Not only does orientation, education, and new grad residencies cost bank to the entity, it takes longer for a new grad to develop time management and critical thinking skills (as it should but it still takes it's toll on the companies checkbook).

You will understand in a couple of years when you can finally really hold your own and have not been having to ask multiple questions or needed meds passed or other tasks performed by more experienced nurses to get out on time from your shift...especially when you start to see the turnover of the other nurses you started with be replaced by new grads that now need your help and you have the ability to help them!

I've been the new grad turned more experienced nurse on the unit by default of turnover. While you'll be excited to finally be the one others are coming to for help and experience, it may also get to be exhausting as well depending on how much turnover is affecting your units new grad ratios.