New Grads With Attitude

flashpoint · Jul 30, 2016

I am always a bit confused when anyone went through a nursing program and seems to think they won't end up working weekends and holidays. Really? Do they think the residents are only there Monday through Friday?

I have to admit, I am seeing similar trends in several new employees, not just new grads. When I was hired, I was told that I would be doing day shift, every other weekend, an occasional evening or night, and a "fair" amount of holidays. I have worked every other weekend on the evening shift for eight months. The new nurse they hired was supposed to take over my evenings and I was supposed to do the day shift on the same weekend. She decided it is too hard to flip from days to evenings and complained to the right people, so I am back on the evenings. She has been a nurse since before I was born, so she certainly isn't newly licensed.

I think the people who are willing to do whatever is needed to maintain their hours and safe and adequate staffing are becoming more few and far between. I sit in on interviews and am often surprised at the people who have to work a certain weekend, can't stay past their shift ever for any reason, or who are demanding wages far beyond their experience.

WheatGerm · Jul 30, 2016

I think maybe one of the issues at play is whether or not the new grads have had a job before. I used to work at a non-nursing job that required 12+ hour days, weekends, holidays, random hour long shifts at night, etc. I never had an issue with it, but that's probably because I have been in the workforce since 14.

I noticed a lot of people I went to school with would say things about how they didn't know how they could give up weekends, but they had never had a job before and I think they didn't understand a lot of workplace dynamics as well. The dynamics thing includes following instructions from a DON, etc. and also just in general interactions with co-workers.

I do have to disagree though that new nurses who say they are working in LTC since they couldn't get a hospital job are entitled. I mean, personally I wouldn't want to work in LTC over a hospital due to future career goals but I don't think that makes me entitled, just not my thing.

CaliSplash8 · Jul 30, 2016

I'm a new grad waiting to take the NCLEX, but once I get my first job as an RN, I expect to work nights, weekends, holidays, etc., until I get more experience and prove that I have what it takes to advance in the nursing field. I was brought up to believe that nothing in life is handed to you and hard work, respect for those more experienced and teamwork are the key to success. Maybe because I'm a little older than your typical new grad and have also held down a job since the age of 14, I have developed a strong work ethic. I too have noticed some of my younger classmates who seem a bit naive about what it means to be a new nurse at the bottom of the pecking order. I totally get that textbook nursing is completely different then real world nursing and I can't wait to learn as much as I can from seasoned nurses so I can be the best patient advocate that I can be. I was brought up to value the importance of a strong work ethic and to respect nurses with experience. I honestly can't wait to learn from any nurse, CNA, patient care tech, anyone who can teach me something new everyday that will make me a better nurse. Just wanted to say that there are new grads out there like me that are eager to learn and will work hard to earn the respect of experienced nurses.

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beckysue920 · Jul 30, 2016

I'm a new grad waiting to take the NCLEX, but once I get my first job as an RN, I expect to work nights, weekends, holidays, etc., until I get more experience and prove that I have what it takes to advance in the nursing field. I was brought up to believe that nothing in life is handed to you and hard work, respect for those more experienced and teamwork are the key to success. Maybe because I'm a little older than your typical new grad and have also held down a job since the age of 14, I have developed a strong work ethic. I too have noticed some of my younger classmates who seem a bit naive about what it means to be a new nurse at the bottom of the pecking order. I totally get that textbook nursing is completely different then real world nursing and I can't wait to learn as much as I can from seasoned nurses so I can be the best patient advocate that I can be. I was brought up to value the importance of a strong work ethic and to respect nurses with experience. I honestly can't wait to learn from any nurse, CNA, patient care tech, anyone who can teach me something new everyday that will make me a better nurse. Just wanted to say that there are new grads out there like me that are eager to learn and will work hard to earn the respect of experienced nurses.

Cali, you sound like a nurse I would hire in a heartbeat!

The lack of work ethics and sense of entitlement, in many people, seems to have consumed so much of our society. Is it because there are so many sociopaths who are our "examples"? Who knows...

For a new nurse to expect to get what s/he wants when s/he wants it...I say...find another career!

CaliSplash8 · Jul 30, 2016

Beckysue thank you for the kind words. I couldn't agree more that there seems to be this growing sense of entitlement among the "millennials" who are entering the workforce as new RNs and expecting to immediately be given health benefits and weekends off without putting in the hours and experience. It doesn't seem like this new generation values hard work and I'm not sure why either; maybe they've had poor examples to learn from like you said. I'm just glad that my parents were old school and taught me that nothing is handed to you in life, to always work hard and continue to better myself and that respect is earned when you respect others.

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Aromatic · Jul 31, 2016

it will catch up with them. Never helps to get on peoples bad side, since of course then some will go out of their way to cause you problems in the future.

face down, gloves on, and dig it!

ayejay09 · Jul 31, 2016

I'm not a new grad, but even when I was I didn't act like that. I love working my nights. Who doesn't love holiday pay? And i'm always eager to learn new things. I even show our new nurses things when I'm doing something that doesn't come up often. Just last night I walked a newbie through de-accessing a port. You have to be willing to do the time. If not, then hospital nursing isn't for you. We should always been hungry for more knowledge. When we think we know it all, patients die.

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Aug 1, 2016

To play the devil's advocate (disclaimer, I am a millennial), I don't believe that most millennial nurses share that sense of entitlement.

Rather, growing up in the social media age of status updates and retweets, I think many millennials share a common belief that it's ok to broadcast their thoughts/feelings (including workplace grievances) to anyone, anywhere, anytime. I'd imagine all generations have their bad seeds; the bad seeds of this generation just happen to be especially loud. :rolleyes:

I'd like to think that most new grads and young nurses (myself included) are grateful to be employed, realize that they have to pay their dues as a newbie, and appreciate the invaluable expertise that experienced nurses bring to the table. I learn new things from the older nurses on my unit every shift, and I know that our team would be up a creek without them.

Val_RN · Aug 1, 2016

I'm actually a new grad who just started working at her first job ever and I have to say that I have seen nurses like this and do everything in my power to avoid behaving this way. I think it has to do with the way my parents brought me up understanding that I need to respect authority or those who have more knowledge/experience than me whether I like it or not. I know that I may have to give up some weekends or holidays and honestly that's fine with me, as I am just grateful to have landed a job with the lack of experience I had. I don't know what it is that makes some nurses behave that way but please don't think were all the same, some of us do have respect for others and understand that sacrifices come with the job:)

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Aug 1, 2016

To play the devil's advocate (disclaimer, I am a millennial), I don't believe that most millennial nurses share that sense of entitlement.
Rather, growing up in the social media age of status updates and retweets, I think many millennials share a common belief that it's ok to broadcast their thoughts/feelings (including workplace grievances) to anyone, anywhere, anytime. I'd imagine all generations have their bad seeds; the bad seeds of this generation just happen to be especially loud.
I'd like to think that most new grads and young nurses (myself included) are grateful to be employed, realize that they have to pay their dues as a newbie, and appreciate the invaluable expertise that experienced nurses bring to the table. I learn new things from the older nurses on my unit every shift, and I know that our team would be up a creek without them.

Interesting and insightful observation. Makes a lot of sense.

EDnurseNY · Aug 1, 2016

I am a new grad, and 26yo. Of course I expect to work nights, weekends, holidays, etc. Nursing is a 24/7 job, we don't just close up our units and go home at 5pm. That aside, I am actually looking forward to working weekends. Shift differential is a very nice thing. And maybe it's just that I'm boring, but I really don't mind that my 'weekend' is Monday and Tuesday (or similar). Friday and Saturday are just days to me and hey, if I get paid extra for working them, even better.

I also don't understand anyone who goes through nursing school that hates hard work and learning new things/skills. What did they think they were getting themselves into? "Oh you've graduated nursing school, congratulations! You'll never have to lift a finger or do something new ever again!"