a few questions for an RN new grad

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I am doing a project for school about new RN grads working in their first few years (up to 5). I was wondering if anyone would like to take a few minutes and answer a few questions for me??? Any response would be greatly appreciated.

What field of nursing do you work in?

What best prepared you for your transition to new grad?

Did you participate in a preceptor program designed for new grads?

What did you feel most prepared for?

What did you struggle most with during your transition from student to nurse?

What is the most important thing you think I should know before entering the field?

Thanks so much!!!

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
i am doing a project for school about new rn grads working in their first few years (up to 5). i was wondering if anyone would like to take a few minutes and answer a few questions for me??? any response would be greatly appreciated.

what field of nursing do you work in? med/surg-tele

what best prepared you for your transition to new grad? combination of some excellent clinical experiences and my previous professional history in my former field.

did you participate in a preceptor program designed for new grads? no.

what did you feel most prepared for? the basic med/surg stuff. the difficult stuff has been dealing with diminished patients while maintaining my schedule.

what did you struggle most with during your transition from student to nurse? time management and charting. i have a hard time walking out of pt. rooms when they're trying to talk to me but i need to get on to other tasks.

what is the most important thing you think i should know before entering the field? you may have a very difficult time finding employment.

thanks so much!!!

you're welcome.

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What field of nursing do you work in?

I work in an ICU

What best prepared you for your transition to new grad?

Probably the last clinicals we had to do, which I did in the same ICU that I work in now. Also, I did an externship the summer before I graduated, where after we completed it we could work as a SNA (student nurse) level2 and take pts, work under an RN. I worked like that my last semester.

Did you participate in a preceptor program designed for new grads?

I'm not sure what that even is. So no

What did you feel most prepared for? HAHAHA

Well, at least I knew the hospital because I worked there through school and did all my clinicals there.

What did you struggle most with during your transition from student to nurse?

I think I was still in "student mode" when I graduated. One of the nurses I oriented with joked that she had to "kick me out of the nest." It was hard to see these nurses as my peers. I still felt like a small little student nurse.

What is the most important thing you think I should know before entering the field?

Even after plenty of time working the floor, there will be some nights that you feel like you don't know anything. I'm a year out of school and have those moments. But never act like you know something when you don't!

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Specializes in O.R..

what field of nursing do you work in? i work in the or at a level 1 trauma center and teaching hospital

what best prepared you for your transition to new grad? clinical experiences through school and having family members who work in the healthcare field to mentor me and support me through the transition.

did you participate in a preceptor program designed for new grads? nope. just went straight to work. i have been in a kind of "orientation to the or" program but it is not specific to new grads, just new or employees.

what did you feel most prepared for? i had a good idea of what my job duties would be because my mother has been an or nurse for the past 20+ years. i also prepare for my job by researching the cases and staff surgeons i will be working with (suture preference, instrumentation preference, and things of that nature). i also asked for a full shadow day prior to my start date in order to familiarize myself better with where everything is in the department so that helped me to not look like a crazy person running around looking for stuff all day.

what did you struggle most with during your transition from student to nurse? i had to learn how to assert myself! it's hard to go from student to real life rn!

what is the most important thing you think i should know before entering the field? don't be afraid to ask questions! have a good sense of humor, be able to laugh at yourself!

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

What field of nursing do you work in?

Critical Care-mostly cardiac

What best prepared you for your transition to new grad?

Honestly, I was an LVN for a few years prior. So that definitely aided me.

Did you participate in a preceptor program designed for new grads?

I did, but it really wasn't needed and I got off of the orientation early.

What did you feel most prepared for?

Multi-tasking.

What did you struggle most with during your transition from student to nurse?

Just the new equipment, it was an area I was unfamiliar with.

What is the most important thing you think I should know before entering the field?

Honestly, the best skill you can have is knowing how to think. That will save you more time than anything. I've seen new grads run around like chickens with their head chopped off. I think it's usually because they just haven't come up with a plan of attack. Sometimes taking a couple minutes of just thinkin and planning out your shift can save you hours.

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Specializes in Neuroscience/Cardiac.

What field of nursing do you work in?

Neuroscience/Cardiac Telemetry

What best prepared you for your transition to new grad?

Working as a NAC for two years during nursing school at the same hospital.

Did you participate in a preceptor program designed for new grads?

No.

What did you feel most prepared for?

Patient/family interaction, meds, daily cares.

What did you struggle most with during your transition from student to nurse?

Being confident in my assessment skills and decision making. Its now my name that's on the line!

What is the most important thing you think I should know before entering the field?

Make yourself marketable to employers.

Thanks so much!!!

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Specializes in NICU.

what field of nursing do you work in?

neonatal intensive care unit

what best prepared you for your transition to new grad?

having a supportive nursing educator and preceptor.

did you participate in a preceptor program designed for new grads?

no, i didn't. however, i was paired with excellent preceptors.

what did you feel most prepared for?

calculating medications.

what did you struggle most with during your transition from student to nurse?

time management, drawing blood, and starting iv's.

what is the most important thing you think i should know before entering the field?

that your future employer offers a training program that is supportive to a new grad.

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