So what can you do to make your transition from nursing student to working nurse easier and your first years on the job more satisfying? Here are some issues to ask about and consider before and after taking the job.
Ask About First-Year Nurse Turnover Rates
High turnovers indicate how the employer treats first-year nurses. Turnovers higher than 20 percent are generally considered high in the industry.
Find Out About Orientation and Preceptor Programs
A preceptor is a teacher and coach who helps nurses become oriented and familiar with a facility’s routines, procedures and people. New nurses are more likely to stay if they have an experienced and helpful preceptor. That’s why you should ask, “Will a preceptor be available on my shift after the orientation to answer questions and help with clinical decision making?”
Inquire About Support
Query the nurse manager about the level of clinical, social and emotional support available for new nurses. This support includes having experienced nurses on hand to help debrief a new nurse once he experiences a tragedy at work, such as a death. That debriefing must happen the day the event occurs, not a week later.
Observe the Unit
Simply touring the unit won’t give you a good idea of how people work together. Because it takes a while for people to let their guard down when someone is watching, make sure you observe for a few hours so you get a clearer picture of the unit’s interpersonal dynamics.
Consider Working on a Specialty Unit First
It’s actually easier for many new nurses to start on a specialty unit, such as labor and delivery or a highly staffed pediatrics unit, because the patients on those units are more homogeneous than those on a medical/surgical unit.
“If you take a position on a general medical/surgical unit, the range of patients is quite broad”. “If you work on intensive-care or coronary-care units, you will have more of a controlled patient population.”
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