I notice some students or others seem to think that because they've heard about a nursing shortage, that means that they will get a day position in their dream unit, and be welcomed with open arms as if they are the reserve troops come to save the day.
I don't think that's really the case. You still have to take the less desirable shifts, prove yourself, be accepted by your co-workers, and earn respect. Yes, there are toxic units, and those ones are probably more in need of extra help, so you might be more likely to get a job there.
If you are a newbie, you still have to 'pay your dues' in some way, that's usually the way life works in many arenas.
"I have to show any more respect to expirienced nurses than I would anyone else I consider my equal? When it comes to work respect is earned, not given solely on the fact that you are older than I. " as written by babydoll99 99
Well written post. you forgot to add( nor just because you got out of school with more education does that mean you you are not to be respectful to others less educated) but I believe you are the type of person who would be respectful of all people around you.
I believe in being polite to all, I will give the benefit of the doubt, but as to nursing skills and ability that is the part which each individuals proves on a daily basis no matter how new, how old, educated, non educated.
You know we must be lucky at my place of work because I have neither witnessed or heard any of our New Grads behaving badly, they have all been keen, interesting and eager to please. They work hard and dont complain. I am proud of them and would recommend them. They keep me on my toes asking good well balanced questions which require thought and research.
The ones who annoy me are RN's who get to work xmas eve and nothing else and have the nerve to ask you to swap with them so they work nothing. The ones who ask to go early every day and the ones who put themselves down as first cancel. The ones who never contribute to the floor education but continually moan and complain, and I am talking about seasoned nurses not 'new grads'.
it is not really paying dues at all in my estimation.
It is acclimating to your new role , either showing or becoming proficient in your skills needed to do your job safely. None of us ever reach the point of knowing everything no matter how many years nor how many degrees in the medical field you might have. It is becoming a part of team, and the team looks out for number one the good of patient. Accepting yes perfect schedules and holidays off would be great, but again knowing that patients come first ,based on their needs determines how many nurses are needed on any given day of the week , shift or holiday.We are nurses as it is all about the patient, if it is not. I guess that is why there are different areas away from patients that nurses go into.
That is my take on it. Perhaps the day we realize we are there for the patient and not ourselves is the day we truly have paid our dues.And no I am not a nurse martyr.
In some areas new grads are asking for and getting day shift, specialty areas and other plumb jobs. Nothing wrong with asking for and going for what you want. There's no reason someone should pay their dues on night shift in a med-surg unit if that isn't their desire and if there are better things for them out there.
I don't think there is anything wrong with a new grad shopping around for the best work environment for them. For some, it means a year of med-surg. For others, this may mean going into a specialty.
As for me, when I finished school, I asked for and received the hours I wanted. Was there some resentment? Yes, by some that got treated like absolute dirt when they were new. I feel badly that people had to go through that but I expected better for myself, because I know that when I am in an environment where I am happy, I do my best work. I love my job and I am proud to be a nurse, but I am always going to look after myself first when it comes to my career, and my life. If I'm not getting what I need from a particular workplace, well, plenty of other places. I have never been afraid to start over if that's what I need to do to thrive.
IMO, we're all different and that's what is so great about nursing-not everyone has to walk the same road.
Nursing is a second career for me, and I try to keep a couple things in mind. First, I would likely not appreciate someone brand new assuming they know more than me in my previous job, so I assume experienced nurses would not cotton to me making a similar assumption about their work.
Still, there's no law that says newbies can't have good ideas, so listening makes sense.
I work in hospice, and I don't have nearly the clinical experience of other nurses there. I didn't do my time in med/surg. Otoh, I have good skills in dealing with co-workers and patients and their family members. That is the biggest part of the job.
Always make sure co-workers who help you out get public recognition for doing so. First, it's the right thing to do, and it never hurts to make friends, either. And btw, never hesitate to ask for help when you need it either. Your ego will heal much faster than a patient you harm.
When you can, volunteer to help with tasks that need to be done, even if it's not your responsibility. There is always one more thing you can do to make a situation better.
Never, ever gossip or carry tales. Once the gossipers figure out you don't pass it on, they leave you alone. It's not an efficient use of their time....
In my mind, if we have the same job, we are equals. I have learned a lot from nurses with more experience and they have updated their knowledge through me. It is a give and take relationship of equals. Nurses with experience already have the upper hand when it comes to finding jobs etc, so why is it that when we do the same job, I have to show any more respect to expirienced nurses than I would anyone else I consider my equal? When it comes to work respect is earned, not given solely on the fact that you are older than I.
I think there is a rebuttable presumption that a more-experienced person is a bit more equal.
As it happens, I'm older than many who are more experienced nurses than me. Age isn't the question, but I do know that experience generally brings expertise that is hard to gain any other way. A generous dollop of respect and deference given to the experienced nurse is fitting, I believe, unless they prove it's not deserved.
Respect and deference are like courtesy. Those that demand them generally don't deserve them.
Those that do deserve them stick out like a halogen lamp at night.
While one should recognize that the experienced nurse has more knowledge that doesn't mean they are more equal or important. It does mean that one should heed their advice.
There are a lot of really good points on this thread.
1. This is a professional career requiring a healthy dose of education. Education doesn't become wisdom until you have experience. You can't get experience until you have a job. Things that look one way in a book, ALWAYS look different in real life.
2. Respect shouldn't just be handed out. Many people in EVERY field don't belong there. Pursuing nursing or any level of medicine just for the paycheck is a ridiculous reason to start down this career path.
3. The new breed of young people that would rather text and giggle than take notes during lecture or sit and chat on myspace rather than work with an experienced co-worker on their rounds lack discipline and commitment and have NO BUSINESS in any line of medicine. It's bad enough to see it at school, it's entirely different when you see them at work. We're working with people and affecting their lives. There's no room for monkeying around when someone's life is at stake. Whether you devote your life to your job, or whether you put in your time and leave it at the door. It's VERY important that we face each day realizing that patient's lives are in our hands.
4. In some parts of the country, paying your dues is part of the game. In other parts, there is such a huge shortage of nurses that it's VERY important that the people who are good at what they do get to where they need to be as quickly as possible. That may mean that some very talented new grads have to move up fast surpassing more tenured nurses. But, I'm pretty sure we'd all rather see that happen than to see management just start hiring every applicant to put a warm body in the open positions. Not everyone who is a nurse, or has been a nurse for X number of years is good at their job. Looking down on someone with a good bedside manner and a respect for what they are doing simply because they are wet behind the ears, hurts everyone.
We'll never all agree on everything. But at some level, we really do. We are all either trying to become or already are nurses. For those of us with a passion for it - it has been a calling. We're not expecting a handout or a leg up. Just a fair shake.
I didn't choose this field to make friends or to step on toes. I chose this field to make a difference.
:loveya:I graduated just this year from a BSN curriculum and took the Local Nursing Licensure exam in my country. Fortunately, I passed the said exam. I'm now spending so much time in preparation for the NCLEX-RN. I pretty much agree and I'm anticipating that graveyard shifts and undesirable demands from a newly hired nurse is enivitable. I'm highly conditioned about the said fact when I was still a creeping nursing student. University of Cebu college of Nursing in the Philippines are highly competitive and were trained to be global nurses. The school produce diligent nurses with pleasing attitudes. Now, as one of the universitie's product, I'm willing to unravel the obstacles that any institution will expect from me.
:loveya:I graduated just this year from a BSN curriculum and took the Local Nursing Licensure exam in my country. Fortunately, I passed the said exam. I'm now spending so much time in preparation for the NCLEX-RN. I pretty much agree and I'm anticipating that graveyard shifts and undesirable demands from a newly hired nurse is enivitable. I'm highly conditioned about the said fact when I was still a creeping nursing student. University of Cebu college of Nursing in the Philippines are highly competitive and were trained to be global nurses. The school produce diligent nurses with pleasing attitudes. Now, as one of the universitie's product, I'm willing to unravel the obstacles that any institution will expect from me.
lpnflorida, LPN
1,304 Posts
"I have to show any more respect to expirienced nurses than I would anyone else I consider my equal? When it comes to work respect is earned, not given solely on the fact that you are older than I. " as written by babydoll99 99
Well written post. you forgot to add( nor just because you got out of school with more education does that mean you you are not to be respectful to others less educated) but I believe you are the type of person who would be respectful of all people around you.
I believe in being polite to all, I will give the benefit of the doubt, but as to nursing skills and ability that is the part which each individuals proves on a daily basis no matter how new, how old, educated, non educated.
One never gets to rest on their laurels.