Perception of Problems Faced by New Graduates and the Ideal New Graduate Employee

Nurses General Nursing

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As a homework assignment, I need a head nurse to discuss his/her perception of problems faced by new graduates and the ideal new graduate employee. Would a head nurse mind answering this for me?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I'm a charge nurse if that counts and based on recent experience with three new grads I'd have to say what we don't want is someone who got straight As in theory and was pushed through clinicals without being required to have a lick of common sense about anything. Normally I enjoy working with new grads and no one expects a new grad to be on par with a seasoned nurse but is it asking too much for them to know how to accurately draw up and give an injection? They have attended accelerated second degree programs so maybe it is the quality of those types of programs? The LPN new grads I've worked with have been really good so having so many competency issues with these new BSNs is frustrating.

What I would like is someone energetic, enthusiastic and willing to take cues from experienced team members and that includes the valuable information our techs have to offer. I think it is important to graduate students that have an idea of how to perform basic patient care fairly independently.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Onc, LTAC.

I'm not a charge nurse, so I can't answer for myself, but I hear many experienced nurses speak out time and time again about new BSN's compared to new LPN's or ADN's. New BSN's do not have the same clinical experiences as LPN's. Yes, there is a different education level for a reason, but LPN's seem more comfortable on the floor and putting theory together with practice. I have been an LPN, an ADN and went back for my BSN. I am so glad I went back for my BSN, but I honestly didn't learn a single thing the whole year I didn't know before. It was actually quite irritating the professors going on and on how BSN's are the future charge nurses and we need to be the leaders of ADN's and LPN's. I think that taught arrogence will really get you in trouble on your floor because I've seen it before! Just being humble and admitting you are learning instead of acting like you know it all already will get you far with the nurses on the floor. I may have my BSN, but I constantly ask the LPN's on the floor questions because they are WAY more experienced and way better nurses than I am. I only hope to be as great as them some day.

The best thing you can do is ask for help, say thank you, write it down so you don't have to ask again and prove to the nurses on the floor you are willing to learn. Good luck!

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I'm a charge nurse if that counts and based on recent experience with three new grads I'd have to say what we don't want is someone who got straight As in theory and was pushed through clinicals without being required to have a lick of common sense about anything. Normally I enjoy working with new grads and no one expects a new grad to be on par with a seasoned nurse but is it asking too much for them to know how to accurately draw up and give an injection? They have attended accelerated second degree programs so maybe it is the quality of those types of programs? The LPN new grads I've worked with have been really good so having so many competency issues with these new BSNs is frustrating.

What I would like is someone energetic, enthusiastic and willing to take cues from experienced team members and that includes the valuable information our techs have to offer. I think it is important to graduate students that have an idea of how to perform basic patient care fairly independently.

This really concerns me!! I have plans to apply to an Accelerated-BSN program in about a year- what kind of questions can I ask the program coordinator to make sure I'm not one of these students who graduates w/out the type of experience you are talking about? Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

Jules and Julie your responses made my heart sing:yeah:. Before burn out I worked as an LPN for over 10 years and my LPN school had many many clinical hours ('72 grad). Back then there were the Diploma Hospital RN's and the BSN's. In my area they had just started an ADN program and it was SUPOSE to be for aids, emts and lpns with some experience and the waiting list was loooong. Anyway, I found the Diploma RN's ready to hit the floor with little orientation the BSN's sometimes hadn't even seen the simplest procedure preformed and only knew theroy. Don't get me wrong I'm all for education but not at the expense of basic clinical experience.

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.
I think that taught arrogence will really get you in trouble on your floor because I've seen it before!

I have seen this taught arrogance but I think many ADNs and LPNs are guilty of it as well. I am in a BSN program and I had amazing, extensive, and varied clinical experiences at a huge inner city teaching hospital. I dont think it's about what you know coming out of school--it's more about if you can learn, grow, and adapt quickly. I may not be the best at inserting a foley, but I dont care because I know that it is something that comes with time and can be learned. Absence of common sense isnt present in BSNs only. I feel that many of my peers and myself are highly functioning although we still have much to learn. I feel likewise about ADNs and LPNs.

PS...sorry to go off topic. I just think it's mean spirited and generalizing to target one degree set as being better than the other...considering each person is an individual and highly differentiated. now Ill get off the soap box.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Don't act like a spoiled, entitled brat.

Thank you.

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.
Don't act like a spoiled, entitled brat.

Thank you.

hahaha I totally thought this was directed to me but you were answering the OP right? I reread my post and was like...waahhh? I came off that way? Im sorry. haha

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Thanks for taking the time to reply! I appreciate your help.

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Thanks for taking time to reply....and thanks for wishing me luck. I graduate in December.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
hahaha I totally thought this was directed to me but you were answering the OP right? I reread my post and was like...waahhh? I came off that way? Im sorry. haha

This is just to the new nurses in general. I had students today that highly annoyed me. I had to pull them all aside and let them know that IRL, not everyone can take lunch (6 of them) at the same time and taking that 10 minutes away from clinical time to "text" and "call" on the cell phone to "set up lunch" is unprofessional and unacceptable.

Boy, what a wakeup call they're going to get.

Again, don't act immature and don't act like you're entitled.

That's all.

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This is just to the new nurses in general. I had students today that highly annoyed me. I had to pull them all aside and let them know that IRL, not everyone can take lunch (6 of them) at the same time and taking that 10 minutes away from clinical time to "text" and "call" on the cell phone to "set up lunch" is unprofessional and unacceptable.

Boy, what a wakeup call they're going to get.

Again, don't act immature and don't act like you're entitled.

That's all.

Geez...if that's the type of student i'm up against, then I'll be way ahead. What a bunch of idiots. Sorry you have to deal with a bunch of slackers!! They deserve a wake-up call.

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