Reader's Voice

Connecticut Nursing News, Dec 2004-Feb 2005 by Richard, Marilyn A

I would like to respond to Diana Norris's Reader's Voice article, Connecticut Nursing News, September, 2004.

We have allowed both basic RNs and APRNs to enter the workforce without enough clinical practice. What did we think? How can we graduate experts?

I understand the principles, but we talked years ago about requirements for advance practice. Knowledge base and experience take time. How can someone function in an advance role when they have little experience?

I was a product of an associate degree education and got the same grief, but it was hard to make up the deficits in exposure and practice. We must realize that there are no internships (paid) for any nurses... as women we have never been allowed them; even psychologists get paid internships from agencies.

We need to fix this problem. How to begin? Again, the programs which develop these plans do not allow for enough experience. Maybe we could require an internship for at least one year. What agencies would be willing to pay for this? How do we make it a requirement? All beginning nurses need internships.

Extended orientation programs have been attempted by many hospitals in the past. However, the hospitals had to pay for these programs and felt it should be the educational programs' responsibility. Educational programs have had trouble getting clinical placements for students, as it requires staff time. Not so long ago, the inpatient setting was drying up as a clinical option-even more reason for internships, as all patients who are seen by hospital, home care and long-term care are more complex than ever before.

Providing a safe working environment without too many patients for a nurse to care for each day, educational support in the workplace and creating a sense of control over one's practice will mean no nursing shortage, as seen in some magnet hospitals.

Marilyn A. Richard, APRN, Ed.D.