Do you remember what it was like when you first graduated nursing school and starting working as a Registered Nurse?  The transition for new nurse graduates is one of tremendous pressure filled with uncontrollable emotions.  New nurses have to adjust to thinking critically in the middle of the night when they are used to sleeping.  They have to adjust to the physical demands of twelve-hour shifts, mandatory overtime, and heavy patient assignments.  They also have to learn to deal with the emotional rollercoaster of watching a patient pass away while they maintain composure and offer support and strength to the family. 

            Many hospitals have mentor programs for new nurses where they assign a new nurse to an experienced nurse.  This relationship is great for the new nurse to learn the policies, procedures, and skills necessary to work independently.  However, is it possible for the experienced nurse to provide the new nurse with all the support he or she needs during this transition period?  Can the experienced nurse completely relate to what they new nurses is going through?  An online-support group for new nurses to share their experiences would greatly benefit the nursing profession.  Here is why:

1.       The online format would facilitate nurses working all shifts.  They could log on at their own convenience.

2.      The support group would allow new nurses to share their fears, frustrations, and emotions with others who are going through the same thing at the same time.

3.      The new nurses could support each other by sharing stress busters, diet, exercise, and work-life balance tips.

4.      The support group could help nurse administrators and educators create more effective orientation programs.

5.       The support group could create unity and ignite the profession during a time of tremendous changes and pressures. 

6.      The support group could potentially prevent new nurses from leaving the profession.  We cannot afford to lose a single nurse.

 

I believe that all nurses could benefit from each other’s support.  However, I believe that the new nurses are the most vulnerable, and they need to nurture each other.  Now that we have the benefit of online technology, we should use it to our advantage.  What do others think about this idea? 

Yes, this is a great idea.  I've been a nurse for nearly 30 years but still remember the painful first year when I could have used a mentor.  Now that online support groups are so accessable this would be a great avenue to support nurses new to the profession.

Great post, Kelley!  Let's use this forum as the group!  Anyone out there have any stress-busting tips for new grads?  Ideas for mentoring programs?  Tales of horror?

---

Adrianne O'Brien, editor, Executive Insight

Kelley,

  I agree that this is a fabulous idea.  Especially since after graduation,  many new nurses move or lose contact with their college classmates, and may not feel comfortable talking to their coworkers. With an online forum new nurses could really find support they need from others going though similar stressors, and they could also get pointers from more experienced nurses who have already made it though the worst of it.

GREAT idea!  Way to put your concerns in action.
 

being a relatively new nurse myself (just completed my first year as an RN!) I think an online support group is a great idea. I still feel so new and inexperienced at times and the learning curve for nurses is a steep one, it's all about experience!! It can be difficult adjusting to the long hours and both physical and emotional stresses of working and maintaining balance in the rest of your life. I think the support group would be great for new nurses if only just to remind everyone that they are not alone in what they are feeling, be it anxiety, fear, exhaustion,  or overwhelming stress. It would be especially beneficial for those who don't have a good support system where they work. Great idea kelley, I'll be looking forward to the start up of the group!

I think this is a great idea.  When I was in nursing school I lived with two other amazing girls who were also in the nursing program with me and we were definitely a big part of each others support system.  After graduation when that support system changed and we lived apart it would have been nice to have an online support system to share thoughts with in between being able to catch up with the old roomies.  Overall, I am sure this would be beneficial to many a new nurse!

as a nurse of 14 years, I concur with the idea of supporting new nursing grads on the job. I am currently a nurse preceptor on a Med/Surg floor and have been here since graduating in 1995.  I mentor nursing grads, work with them while they are still students doing clinicals at my hospital, precept the students for 12 week period before they graduate trying to help train and teach skills that we all now realize are learned "on the job". I precept new grads as new nurses on the floor for 12 weeks of orientation before they are " turned loose" to work solo. The most important thing I try to teach is that no question is too stupid to ask, no one ever knows all the answers. I still ask others their opinions when I am not completely sure about a situation. when I went back for my BSN, I studied  Patricia Brenners model of nursing Novice nurse to Experienced Nurse and realized that it really explained how I felt just starting out.

I think this is a great idea! Especially since something like 50% of new graduates leave the hospital setting within the first 2 years of graduation.  I often thought to myself as a new nurse that nursing is one of only professions that as a "novice" you enter carrying the same work load as a nurse with 25 years experience....if you look at any other field, example finance - you start off in an entry level position and work your way up.  I don't know what is going to happen to the future of nursing when the baby boomers retire, there has to be some changes and there needs to be a significant change in nursing mentality to keep young nurses from chosing new careers.

---

Rebecca

Are you a new nurse working the night shift?  Do you feel lousy and out of sorts?  Working the night shift bring incredible challenges.  Every human adult needs 7 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each day. Day sleep is less restorative than night sleep.  Nurses who work overnights are far less likely to sleep for 7 to 8 hours during the day.  Lack of sleep causes problems with memory, concentration, and mood.  Lack of sleep can also increase your risk for chronic disease like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.  Until the day that patients no longer stay overnights in the hospital, nurses will have to work the overnight shift.  Therefore, it is important for new nurses to practice healthy sleep habits.  Here are some tips to help you sleep!  I hope they are helpful!

1.       If you are having difficulty sleeping you should schedule an appointment with your doctor.  In order to give you the best treatment possible, try to keep a sleep journal for at least 2 weeks.  Bring the journal to your appointment

2.      Wear sunglasses home from work if you get out of work when it is day light.  This will help tell your body that it is time for sleep.

3.      Try to take a nap on your lunch break if you work the overnight shift.  Research has shown that a 20-30 minutes nap can increase your alertness while you are at work.

4.      Have someone pick you up from work, take a bus, or take a cab.  Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous ask drunk driving.  Keep you and others on the road safe.

5.      Only drink 2 cups of coffee or 500mg of caffeine during the time you are awake.  Try to limit your caffeine intake to no more than 4 hours after you wake up.  Caffeine consumption too late in the night or day can interfere with your ability to sleep.

6.      Try to keep the same sleep-wake schedule when you are working and when you are not working.  This will help your body to adjust to the unnatural schedule.

7.      Darken your room if you are sleeping during the day.  Try to purchase the thickest curtains that you can find, or put black poster board over your windows.  Close the doors to your bedroom.  The darkness can help offset your body’s natural tendency to stay awake during the day.

8.      Do not drink alcohol when you get out of work.  Your body is more sensitive to alcohol when you are sleep deprived.  People who work nights and evenings are more likely to be sleep deprived.  Alcohol will also limit your body’s ability to stay sleeping.

9.      Do not eat a large meal when you get home from work.  Try to spread your meals into small healthy portions throughout the day.  This will allow your body to focus on sleeping.

10.  Make sure that you have open communication with your family and neighbors about your work schedule.  Tell your family not to call you or wake you when you plan to sleep.  Ask your neighbors to respect their noise level during the day so that you can sleep. 

11.  Do not assume that because you work during the night you can stay awake and fully function during the day.  Do not plan additional responsibilities, besides sleep, during the daytime or morning hours.  In the long run you and your family will suffer.  Your body cannot survive and function best when you do not get the sleep that you need.

12.   Try not to work overtime unless you have no other choice.  You need time to sleep and rest.

13.   Try to avoid adjusting your finances according to the shift differentials on the night shift.  If your body cannot handle the alternate schedule, you will be forced to work the schedule to meet your financial obligations.  The money will not seem worth it if you are unhealthy and unhappy.

I would add invest in ear plugs and a sleep mask.  All the "little" noises may bother you plus it helps darken the room with the mask.  I use both and a sound machine.  They all really help!  And don't worry you will still hear the smoke detector.  

I would say to remember to do your job to it's fullest.  Right now we have some "younger" nurses who do the bare minimum just to get their shift in which isn't fair to the other nurses nor is it fair to the patient.  Remember to put your patient first after all his/her life and health is in your hands, at least while they are in the hospital. Good luck and God Bless.

I would like to avoid directly pointing fingers at certain generations in this thread please. We need to try to find the positive in all generations of nurses and avoid focuing on the negative.  We need to unite as a profession.

Kelley,

 

What a great idea.  I've been a nurse for 11 years and still feel like I need support. My first year of nursing I was forced to work in in long term care (and I wonder how many new grads this year will also experience that because of today's economy).  I remember feeling abandoned and lost.  I got through it because I aspired to reach acute care. i would love to offer support to those moving up the ranks.  Keep me posted and I will keep checking back.

 Sincerely,

 

Loretta

 

 

Loretta,

 

Thank you SO much for your support.  We need to recruit new nurses to join so that they can get the support they need. Ideally, I would like to get a more private site established for nurses to network and support eachother.  This is a great first step.  Thank you :)

 Long term care is tough.  I did many rounds as a long term care nurse working under a "contract" position.  Long term/rehab facilities are so strenuous and challenging. They are so short staffed which results in nurses feeling "abandoned" also, many times I was the ONLY licenced person in the building, which is very scarey!

 

 

i just started working in a hospital in dec 08 and i am very stressed...i would love to join your board