Transitioning from nursing school to working in a hospital setting can be a challenging time for a new graduate. Due to the nursing shortage, new graduate nurses are being hired with little to no experience. This is overwhelming for new nurses, especially when they are not getting adequate support or training from the hospital. The amount of stress, pressure, and lack of training is leading to a high turnover rate for new graduate nurses. With patient acuity on the rise, new graduate nurses that are filling these vacancies in the hospitals, need to be competent nurses to provide proper and safe care to the patients.
This article researched the competency of new graduate nurses. “Nursing competence is not only a professional standard described by the American Nurses Association but also a Joint Commission requirement” (Theisen & Sandau, 2013). Competency is defined as the ability to do something successfully or efficiently; however, educators believe competency extends beyond skills. There is a strong push for nurse residency programs or nursing orientation programs. Incorporating these programs in more hospitals would increase new graduate nurse’s competency skills, as well as lower the rates of turnovers for new nurses. “Because of the complexity of defining competence, an emphasis on the expectations of new graduate nurses must be introduced at the beginning of a nurse’s career” (Theisen & Sandau, 2013). After gathering several studies from databases and search engines, several competencies important for new graduates were identified. The six competencies identified include: communication, leadership, organizations, critical thinking, specific situations, and stress management. Nurses identified communication as a weakness for ...
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... use of critical thinking skills, and provide as much feedback as possible. If there is use of simulation, educators should use debriefing to enhance the use of simulation.
With patient acuity on the rise and an increase in nursing jobs, it is no surprise that new graduate nurses are being hired to fill these spots. Hiring a new graduate nurse comes with the chance that they are less developed in communication, leadership, organization, critical thinking, handling specific situations, and stress management. However, these weaknesses could be addressed by nurse residency programs, simulation, debriefing, and the use of a mentor.
Works Cited
Theisen, J. L., & Sandau, K. E. (2013). Competency of New Graduate Nurses: A Review of Their Weaknesses and Strategies for Success. Journal Of Continuing Education In Nursing, 44(9), 406-414. doi:10.3928/00220124-20130617-38
Newly graduated nurses lack clinical skills necessary to evolve professionally and carefully from academics to bedside practice (Kim, Lee, Eudey, Lounsbury & Wede, 2015). How scary is that not only for the patient but also for the new nurse himself or herself? While being faced with new challenges, an increasing amount of newly graduated RNs felt overcome and unqualified. Twibell and Pierre explain how new nurses express “disillusionment” about practice, scheduling, and being rewarded. Frustration and anger between employees play a huge part in NGNs resigning because of the lack of experience and knowledge of what to do in high stress situations (2012). Nursing residency programs have proven to directly improve patient care, develop critical
Transitioning from academic nursing student to Registered Nurse/New Graduate Nurse (NGN) within the healthcare environment is a challenging task for many NGNs. They may encounter a number of challenges, such as the following: transition shock, professional isolation, lack of clinical experience, stress, lack of a support network and cultural incompetence. At the end, this essay will discuss the rationale for developing my two most important goals for the next twelve months. I presume the transition from academic nursing student to Graduate Nurse will be challenging and rewarding. In their findings, the researchers Doody, Tuohy & Deasy (2012) stated that for a successful transition NGNs need to be competent in a range of domains: interpersonal skills, managing workloads, providing health information, communication, and prioritising care delivery.
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Current literature continues to reiterate the indicators of a major shortage of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States. The total RN population has been increasing since 1980, which means that we have more RNs in this country than ever before (Nursing Shortage). Even though the RN population is increasing, it is growing at a much slower rate then when compared to the rate of growth of the U.S. population (Nursing Shortage). We are seeing less skilled nurses “at a time of an increasingly aging population with complex care needs and an increasingly complex technological care environment” (Mion). According to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Department of Health and Human Services, it is estimated that “more than a million new and replacement nurses will be needed over the next decade” (Diagnosis: Critical).
The transition from student to a qualified nurse can be a stressful and overwhelming ex-perience for many newly qualified nurses. This opinion is widely upheld throughout the literature with Higgins et al (2010) maintaining that many of the problems experienced are due to lack of support during this initial transition and a period of preceptorship would be invaluable.
As a nurse we are responsible for the safety and overall health promotion of our patients. Competency in the nursing field is what ensures patient safety and decreased hospital acquired injury. Continued competence ensures that the nurse is able to perform efficiently and safely in a constantly changing environment. Nurses must continuously evaluate their level of skill and find where improvement needs to be made in order to keep up to date with the expected skill level set by their
There is a shortage of all health care professions throughout the United States. One shortage in particular that society should be very concerned about is the shortage of Registered Nurses. Registered Nurses make up the single largest healthcare profession in the United States. A registered nurse is a vital healthcare professional that has earned a two or four year degree and has the upper-most responsibility in providing direct patient care and staff management in a hospital or other treatment facilities (Registered Nurse (RN) Degree and Career Overview., 2009). This shortage issue is imperative because RN's affect everyone sometime in their lifetime. Nurses serve groups, families and individuals to foster health and prevent disease.
The nursing career has a growing workforce, spurred on by the high demand for caregivers. The growing need for nurses has caused in influx of new nurses, graduating from school and ready to begin their career. Although there are many different work settings for nurses, one universal aspect of assisting new nurses is nursing leadership. Leaders within nursing are tasked with assisting new nurses as well as those who are veteran nurses, and their role is indispensible. “Health leaders model the behavior expected in the organization” (Ledlow & Stephens, 2018). Susan Eckert, the senior vice-president of nursing and chief nursing executive at Medstar Washington Hospital Center, is a prime example of a nursing leader.
There is only so much an individual can learn from a textbook or classroom setting when it comes to nursing. Although clinical practicums are mandatory with any nursing program one can only retain so much in such a short timeframe. Student nurses mostly focus on completing their care plans and any other mandatory assignment related to their clinical experience. With that being said new graduates become novice nurses on the level of clinical practice. Patricia Benner discussed the education and experience levels of nurses by utilizing five significant stages. These stages include novice, advance beginner, competent, proficient, and expert. The ultimate goal for all nurses should
The nursing shortage most likely does not mean a great deal to people until they are in the care of a nurse. The United States is in a severe nursing shortage with no relief in sight due to many factors compounding the problem and resulting in compromised patient care and nurse burnout. Nursing shortages have been experienced in the past by the United States and have been overcome with team effort. However, the current shortage is proving to be the most complex and great strides are being made to defeat the crisis before it becomes too difficult to change. Researchers anticipate that by 2010, the United States will need almost one million more registered nurses than will be available (Cherry & Jacob, 2005, p. 30).
Many health care professionals are wondering why shortage transpired when managed care cost initiatives, implemented throughout the country, are dramatically decreasing the length of patient stays (Upenieks, 2003). In fact, such a situation should be resulting in a nursing oversupply. As the nursing shortage ensues, the need for recruiting and retaining highly skilled nurses committed to the organization will become necessary to maintain high-quality patient care. The recent national nurse shortage has resulted in higher nurse workloads; fewer support resources, greater nursing dissatisfaction, and burnout, making it more difficult to provide optimal patient care (Upenieks, 2003). The primary role of nursing is to provide the best possible care to patients.
Nurses have always been an undervalued asset to the health care industry; however, there is always a great need for them. With more uninsured Americans requiring safe, affordable medical care, the pressing issue of nursing education is not a priority (Aiken, 2011). Recently, there have been modifications taken place toward the current nursing shortage, the decrease of nursing graduates, a workforce that is becoming older, and other factors that influence nurse educator shortage (Baker, Fitzpatrick, & Griffin, 2011). Nurse educators are required to advise students, complete research, and perform committee work all while teaching (Baker, Fitzpatrick, & Griffin, 2011). They also have multiple jobs outside of practicing nursing and teaching. Nurse educators have stressful roles that hold many expectations, yet there is no independence in making their own decisions concerning things. Aiken (2011) suggests that the best way to begin combatting this shortage should include increasing the number of nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing from 50% to 80% by 2020 (p. 196). Forty-eight percent of nurse instructors are expected to be aged 55 and older and are predicted to retire by this time. (Baker, Fitzpatrick, & Griffin, 2011).
The prolonged shortage of skilled nursing personnel has been a serious concern to the healthcare industry, and this shortage has impacted the quality of care delivery. In addition, nursing turnover has also exacerbated the problem of nursing shortage. Nursing shortage has been blamed on many nurses retiring and less younger nurses joining the occupation. There is also an increase in life expectancy (baby boomers) leading an increase in both physical and mental ailment with subsequent demand in nursing care. Nurses are also leaving nursing profession because of inadequate staffing, tense work environment, negative press about the profession, and inflexible work schedules. Even though nursing is a promising career and offers job security, the
As new nursing graduates begin the process of transitioning into the nursing practice. There are many challenges and issues associated throughout the transition. New graduates may embark on their journey through a graduate program or seek employment solo. The transition period may consist of challenges, that students will encounter during their journey. This essay will identify, discuss, and critically reflect on key nursing challenges that student nurses may face, throughout the process of the transition phase.
Siviter, B. (2008) The Newly Qualified Nurses Handbook. A Survival Guide. Edinburgh: Balliere Tindall Elsevier