NRPs and New Nurses

I recently graduated from nursing school this past May and had preconceived notions of what it would be like in the nursing world. Although I had some idea of what it would be like, I also had thoughts and ideas that could not be further from the truth. To enter into a new nursing role, especially during a global pandemic, was HARD, and to say I was scared was an understatement. I frequently catch myself second-guessing each of my decisions and bombarding the more seasoned nurses with questions and advice. I was frustrated and felt like a nuisance and pest, and at times I would prefer to struggle and figure things out on my own to avoid embarrassment. Fortunately, the hospital I work at has a Nurse Residency Programs. For those unfamiliar, Nurse Residency Programs (NRPs) aims to help new grad nurses' transition into their new roles and help them navigate their first year of practice. These year-long programs help facilitate confidence and strengthen skills among new nurses while also providing a supportive environment. Although these programs are intended to aid and assist new nurses, they also help reduce turnover rates by improving job satisfaction, safety, and morale (AACN, 2019). 

When I first began my nursing journey, I was excited, hopeful, and confident. And while I am still hopeful and excited, I do have feelings of inadequacy and embarrassment. However, my NRP understands these feelings and recognizes the negative impacts they can have on a nurse and their practice, so they offer a supportive environment. They allow opportunities to vent any frustrations and express concerns while also reassuring and providing learning opportunities for the other members of my cohort and me. Although NRPs can be tedious and annoying at times, the pros outweigh the cons because the harsh reality is, if there were no NRPs, new nurses would experience even worse burnout and ultimately decide to leave the profession. I have been apart of this program for nearly six months and can see the influence it has had on me as a whole. I was once terrified of communicating with my colleagues and even more terrified that I would do something wrong that would harm a patient; however, six months later, I am more confident in myself and comfortable communicating with others. And while I will probably never completely get over my fears of hurting a patient, I no longer allow it to hinder me from carrying out my duties. The best piece of advice my NRP ever gave was, "it's okay to be scared; having that fear is what is going to make you be cautious and stop and think. It's going to make you ask questions when you aren't sure because you care. That's the difference between a good nurse and a bad nurse." The words resonate with me and have allowed me to stop feeling embarrassed or thinking others will ridicule me.