Which nurse is easier to train in med surg?

[guest1171208]

Is it easier to train a new grad RN or an experienced 18 year RN that never worked in acute care to med surg?

Especially if the experienced RN worked her entire career working private duty through an agency and only has skills common to PDN such as working with  trachs, ventilator, and feeding tubes?

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

On 5/26/2021 at 4:26 PM, Hannahbanana said:

And if by any wild chance you are one of the other of these two hypotheticals, make your case and learn from the interviews and what you read here.

That was my guess earlier on. The concept of “being played” applies. We’re all anonymous here, so I can’t see the advantage to this kind of coyness. Glad you’ve succeeded there, though. Perhaps that will make the facility less wary about hiring the next homecare refugee, LOL.

[JKL33]

5 minutes ago, Hannahbanana said:

We’re all anonymous here, so I can’t see the advantage to this kind of coyness.

Some people (such as myself) would do something like this not to be coy but as an imperfect means of avoiding an echo chamber or inappropriate reinforcement of their own beliefs or influencing the replies. I.e. just a simple way to try to make it so that others might be less likely to say what they think you want to hear.

As long as the person who does this is willing to thoughtfully accept the replies, there's really no problem??

It's when they come back all enraged and fight about the replies they received after less-than-full-disclosure that is the problem.

[Wuzzie]

1 hour ago, JKL33 said:

As long as the person who does this is willing to thoughtfully accept the replies, there's really no problem??

Well, my reply would have been entirely different, at least part of it.

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

So why do you care how a hypothetical different nurse would have compared to you?

[guest1171208]

I had to learn about some new medications and wound treatments like Xarelto and Profore, so yes med surg was a big learning curve for me at first. I also had to learn Pyxis as well. 

[Ninaof8]

When I was a manager on a small Peds unit, I loved hiring new grads. I loved “growing our own.” The unit had a strong cohesive staff of nurses. I knew the new grads would get a great start to their nursing career and that the unit would get a motivated and dedicated nurse.. Win win 

[vintagegal, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Depends on the person. You can have an experienced RN who “knows everything” and won’t be taught new skills. Or you can get the new grad who doesn’t want to learn because that’s not what they learned in sim lab. Hiring a good nurse starts with a good person. Are they eager to learn? Able to take constructive criticism? Responsible for their own actions? Ask for help when they need it? Interviewing is essential, don’t just hire Susy RN because her application includes 20 years of experience. Find someone who is willing to be a part of a cohesive team and will add to the work environment. A toxic berry can Poison the whole batch.

[DesiDani]

We had a nurse in training that was so strange that his preceptor thought he was on Super Nanny. This trainee was a nurse for 4 yrs. That training ended really quick.

[Dani_Mila, BSN, RN]

On 5/28/2021 at 2:11 AM, Iluvnightshift said:

I was the second nurse in the scenario before I got my current position in med surg six months ago. I love med surg btw. My pay is the same as when I worked in PDN,but the benefits are A1! Finally, I do not have to beg for health insurance and sick days! 

When I use to do  interviews at hospitals AND LTC facilities, it seemed to be a red flag that I never worked in a facility. One LTC DON looked at  my resume and application  during our interview, shook her head ,and stated "You do not have experience." She also stated that because I did not have any nursing experience, they could not hire me.

While looking through jobs on Indeed,I see many hospitals have new grad residencies but none for experienced nurses looking to work in acute care. 

I agree with this. Why is it that we see nurse residency programs for new grads but non for experience nurse without med/surge experience? I think this will be beneficial. If there is one I would definitely sign up for it! My co-workers who applied to hospitals had at least 6 weeks of orientation but my classmate who transitioned to hospital setting had at least 10 weeks.