What is an employers expectations of a new nurse?

[grateful2010, LPN, LVN]

Excuse my ignorance. What are we really expected to "know" as a new RN hire, since most of the learning begins at the actual job and not in school? Besides crtical thinking skills, skills on performing vital signs, basic knowledge of diseases and their outcomes.; what else 'SHOULD' we know? Can a new grad honestly work as a RN supervisor with no nursing experience under their belt? this is where my question stems from.

[Orange Tree]

I feel like I'm expected to know when a patient problem or change in condition is significant and to know when and where to find help if I need it. I've had to look up things as basic as giving an IM injection. No one has had anything to say about it....

There is no way I could be a "supervisor" ....unless it was a formality and I was working with a very experienced team.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

can a new grad honestly work as a rn supervisor with no nursing experience under their belt?

no, not unless you want to be easily fired! as a rn, i want a supervisor who knows my job like the back of his/her hand because he/she did my job. with that said, school taught us only the basics. the basics will not make you a good nurse leader; years of work experience will do the trick.

work experience is essential to being able to rapidly assess, intervene, etc. on behalf of patients because skills (critical thinking, time management, techniques, etc.) are built over time. for instance i doubt a rn new grad can start ivs at the drop of a dime on all sticks to include hard sticks while a patient is struggling due to aloc! also, when there is an emergency such as a patient that codes, a new grad will not be able to ensure that the code is being carried out well or is able to jump in and run the code.

does this answer your question in a nut shell?

[grateful2010, LPN, LVN]

no, not unless you want to be easily fired! as a rn, i want a supervisor who knows my job like the back of his/her hand because he/she did my job. with that said, school taught us only the basics. the basics will not make you a good nurse leader; years of work experience will do the trick.

work experience is essential to being able to rapidly assess, intervene, etc. on behalf of patients because skills (critical thinking, time management, techniques, etc.) are built over time. for instance i doubt a rn new grad can start ivs at the drop of a dime on all sticks to include hard sticks while a patient is struggling due to aloc! also, when there is an emergency such as a patient that codes, a new grad will not be able to ensure that the code is being carried out well or is able to jump in and run the code.

does this answer your question in a nut shell?

yes it does. thank you ladies for the replies, keep them coming.

[surferbettycrocker]

you are expected to know when somethin doesnt look right with your pt. and then alert

the authorities. i agree w/ the first poster..

know your baselines and what is 'normal' for example. its normal to be aox3...but myk pt. is only aox1 yikes! either a)alert the authorities! or

b)is s/he 97 with a h/o dementia and vs wnl? and this is s/he baseline...

start with whats normal--they taught us that in nsg skool..then work it from there.

good luck!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Holey Smokes! New Grads working as supervisors????? In my state, this is pretty much ruled out by our BON 'rules and regulations' - our NGs are not to be placed into positions that require them to function independently without adequate qualified backup. I would suggest asking your BONs about it and getting a ruling from them.

If a NG finds him/herself in such a position due to an unforseen circumstance or emergency, I would advise submitting 'safe harbor' documentation prior to accepting the assignment.