That New-Nurse Smell
I had just started a new full-time job at a nearby convalescent/rehab center. I found that the question I was asked repeatedly upon first meeting another nurse was "How long have you been a nurse?" It seems to be one of the most common questions nurses ask each other upon meeting, besides, of course, "Are you an RN or an LPN?"- But that is a different story altogether!
At this facility, there was a wide range of nurses, some in their early 20s, some nearing retirement age. Some nurses were fresh out of school, others had worked at that facility for more than 30 years.
A more difficult question to answer is, "Are you a new nurse?"
I wonder: How do you define a "new nurse?" I'm not sure how long a nurse is "new." I have been answering by saying "I graduated in 2004." A couple of nurses have said something like, "Oh, you've been a nurse a few years now. You're not a new nurse anymore." Another has said "Oh, you're just a baby nurse!"
One nurse has said that new nurses expect her to know everything because she's been a nurse longer, but she stated that some of them knew more about some things than she did because there are things that have changed since she went to nursing school ... back in the dark ages.
In reality, there is something all of us can learn from each other, young or old, new or seasoned. New nurses have current knowledge, and are sometimes more familiar with newer equipment and the most recent way that procedures are to be performed. They are often thirsty for new knowledge and experiences and soak up information from books and magazines like a sponge.
On the other hand, more seasoned nurses have learned things that can't be taught in books. A nurse who has been at the job long enough can often look at a patient or resident and tell if something is wrong without a new or expensive test. He or she has been around enough to pick up on subtle things that may be overlooked by someone less experienced.
Seasoned nurses also often have routines that get things done quicker and easier. The flipside to this is that a new nurse who is unfamiliar with a facility's routine can sometimes pick up on things other nurses have missed, because they are looking more carefully.
If everyone works together, we all have things we can learn from each other, no matter if we are a seasoned professional or if we still have that "new-nurse smell."