New grads on the Floor.

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Specializes in Case Management, Psychiatric Nursing.

ok well i hear that alot of nurses do not like to mentor the new grads.

is it because we are new and dont have much experience and nurses get annoyed with us? or are we simply a drag. while doing my clinical hours i have encountered alot of good and bad mentors.but mostly bad its as if we are bugging them i tyr to stay out of the way and just take notes on what they do but even that buggs some of the nurse why is this? is it because they do not remember what it was like being a new grad or a student?

i would like to get some feedback thank yout so much. and what can i do to try and be a charming new grad/student on the floor. =]

:nuke:

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, ICU, LTC, DRUG & ETOH.

Hi, I remember {faintly} lol being in your shoes and down thru the years have tried to treat all nurses with respect and empathy. In answer to your question, it is probably a little bit of it all. We are so slammed with too many pts, doctors who sometimes don't really care anymore, JACHO looking over our shoulder for the least little thing and more paperwork and charting seems like every day that sometimes/most times we don't have time to eat lunch, pee or even take care of out pts the way we want to.:uhoh21:And then along comes someone we have to try to find time to help, teach and hopefully encourage to become just like us!Its not that we don't care, most of us do very much, its just the rat race nursing has become. As for me, offer to help if it looks like I need it and its something you feel comfortable with, ask all the questions you want and I'll try to answer them but not when the pt in RM 233 is ringing the bell for the bluemillonith{is that a word?} time to ask for a drink of water while the TURP pt needs helped and ICU just called out to tell me the pt I have on a Dopemine drip's telemetry is awlful.:bugeyes:

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I would love to mentor a new grad, but I'm pretty new myself, so it won't be happening for a while.

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, ICU, LTC, DRUG & ETOH.

Hi Virgo RN,

That is a great attitude ! Why not offer to mentor? Some of the new nurses I work with tell horror stories of it being them and 2-3 other newly graduated nurses working a floor straight out of orientation without anyone with any type experience on the floor to help them :bluecry1:. I think someone with your attitude would go a long way in helping them not feel like giving up ! :bow:

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Specializes in Pediatric ED.
I would love to mentor a new grad, but I'm pretty new myself, so it won't be happening for a while.

Many of my favorite nurses to follow have been new nurses. They tended to process things outloud and ask their preceptors/older nurses lots of questions. It helped to see their thought processes and that it was indeed ok not to know absolutely everything upon graduation ;-)

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I have been out of nursing school for 6 years, and have been a preceptor to new grads for the last 5 years. I love helping the new nurses adjust to the culture shock of floor nursing from being a student. This year has been the hardest year for me though, because the new nurses seemed to know it all. When trying to explain any new procedure to them the reply was "I know." When asked if they knew how to perform any procedure it was "Oh I read about that." - even if they had never performed it. And my personal favorite, when asking about a patients assessment is "But the book says this problem presents with these problems". I have mentioned to more than one new nurse this year that their patient has not read the book that says what their symptoms should be. I like nurses with confidence, but if you don't have the skills to back it up, that is a whole different story. While on orientation is the time to ask questions, not to know everything. I still ask questions when something new happens, and am not afraid to admit it.

Good luck to all the new nurses, we can sure use them.

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Specializes in ED.

I don't have a problem orientating new nurses. My problem is with those who know everything and just don't slow down to ask questions. Our orientation is 8 weeks. 6 weeks will be spent on day shift and the last two on your off shift. After orientation is over, you will be buddied up to another nurse for 1-2 weeks. I work nights, so by the time a new nurse comes to me, he/she is already somewhat proficient at bedside care. I usually spend my time tweaking organization skills and time management. New nurses should remember though, that the nurse they are working with is ultimately responsible for them, so they really need to pay attention and listen to their mentor.

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Precepting is hard work when done right. Often times there is no additional compensation. Answering questions or stepping back and letting a student do something takes a lot longer than just doing it ourselves. Doing this often means we miss lunch or don't get bathroom and drink breaks.

Some don't like students asking questions because they don't know the answers. Some just don't want to have a student pointing out mistakes or how they learned it differently in school. Some students and new grads do come in with a "know it all" attitude that is a big turn off.

Ok.. now for the good news! There are preceptors out there that love students/new grads. Personally I think it is challenging but well worth the effort. I too had some less than desirable preceptors, but now enjoy being a part of the cultural change to a more positive environment. The past does not have to repeat itself and we can break the cycle!

To be that charming student or new grad? Bring food! Ok, seriously that doesn't hurt, but really just come prepared and be open to learn. Don't correct staff unless there is a safety issue. Having said that, I love working with people who bring in new ideas and ways of doing things, but there is a way of doing this that not offensive or threatening. I guess that may seem contradictory. I think it is all about attitude and timing.

I hope this helps a bit. Good luck to you with the rest of school. I hope you have a great experience form here on out ;)

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I am a student and I feel the same. Why do some nurses do anything possible to steer clear of the nurses?? If anything, they should be happy b/c 1.) More nurses are getting into the field .. shortage will help with understaffing and 2.) we are here to HELLP!!!! answer call bells, bed baths, vitals, ANYTHING THEY ASK

I find that the younger nurses are sooo much more helpful than the older ones. Uhg, I just want to scream at some of the nurses and tell them to get over themselves, I will be a nurse just like you in a year!:bowingpur

Today, one actually genuinely thanked me for my help.:D

I can't wait to mentor new nurses, I love to teach when I know something well.

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I agree with turtle. I am a new grad myself, and i can't tell how much I appreciate the staff nurses who volunteer to take me in for shadowing. We don't have the mentor system where I work. I can sense the irritation and rolling eyes when the staff nurses are assigned to us. I try to balance between asking questions and keeping shut, I also note down small questions to be asked at a down time.

Personally I would love to help out a new grad or a new nurse on the floor when I will have enough experience. I think that staff nurses should help out each other and pitch in if time allows.

p.s. I will try bringing food after I will get my first pay check. Right now I don't have money to even refill my gas tank. :yeah:

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It's not like that everywhere! My mentor/preceptor was/is absolutely wonderful! She's been a nurse longer than I've been alive. She is not compensated, either.

My best advice is to be humble. If they make a recommendation-- do it and thank them for the insight.

It's really not all that bad or scary. I think so much of it is the new grad's attitude.

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Oh, and I forgot to mention that last week my instructor SAVED a patient. The nurse gave pt insulin, no food, and went on break. My friend went in the room a few minutes later and noticed something was CLEARLY wrong. She grabbed my instructor, my instructor immediately grabbed the doc. Now I'm not exactly sure what they did, but my instructor said 10-15 more minutes and that pt would be dead. The nurse brushed it off her shoulder when she came back from break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The student just saved your ass- SHOCKING.

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