Mentoring New Nurses--Well--is Vital

The subject of new RNs being set adrift in their first jobs, not exactly rudderless but with insufficient guidance, has been popping up in a number of journals and online discussions. The confidence of new RNs may be shaky and they are often, understandably, tentative. It seems there is a need for the mentoring of new graduates that, in many cases, is not being met. The job dissatisfaction brought on by the you’re-on-your-own atmosphere results in significant job turnover.

Whether the veteran nurses’ reluctance or tacit refusal to take the novice RNs under their wings is brought about by time constraints, resistance to acceptance of new colleagues or an attitude of superiority, the results are the same: new nurses begin to doubt their abilities, fear asking questions and feel anxious.

To combat the situation, some hospitals are wisely instituting new nurse internship and preceptor programs, with support for the new hires not left to chance.

All of this has caused me to reflect on my first job and to realize how fortunate I was to land in a department where not a single nurse ever made me feel dumb or inferior in any way; where the nursing staff kindly helped me learn the ropes, to master the routines and become adept at executing procedures that were specific to our area of the hospital. An incredibly skilled LPN also did her part. She was knowledgeable, patient, cheerful and she was a friend. I'm grateful to all those nurses who gave me the big boost I needed to build my confidence and to do the very best for my patients.

A male nursing school classmate of mine remarked recently that, while some veteran nurses are guilty of “eating their young,” he makes every effort to support new nurses. “They are the ones who will be taking care of me,” he said. Perhaps a tad self-serving, but, still, an excellent reason to nurture those new to the profession.