New Nursing Graduates Are One of the Key Factors in Connecticut's Nursing Supply

Connecticut Nursing News, Jun-Aug 2006 by Barey, Polly T

Here's the task. It's about welcoming our new nursing graduates into not only their jobs but their teams, their facilities, their profession. Think about these precious resources that have been recruited into the field, spent thousands of dollars if they've received an associate's degree and tens of thousands to receive a baccalaureate, used our scare clinical and faculty resources for their education and are now entering potentially one of the most stressful and challenging times in their careers-their first nursing positions.

In purely economic terms these individuals are worth more than their weight in gold. They are human capital; they are the individuals who will staff units 24/7, make decisions about our care and the care of our family and friends, lead and innovate in our profession, provide the vigilance that Meyer and Lavin describe to ensure that patients are safe and have good outcomes, and learn to hopefully love our profession as much as many of us do.

So what's my point?

We know that by 2010 Connecticut will have a shortfall of over 11,000 registered nurses and that shortage will double by 2020. We know that we are losing nurses to retirement. We know the sentiment, "I love nursing but hate my job." We know that we are losing too many of our new graduates. The reality for some of them-the lack of satisfaction, the overwhelming responsibilities, the uncertainties about their roles and the horizontal violence that still occurs-all become factors in the decision to leave, not only the positions that they are in, but the profession itself.

I am optimistic that the many innovative programs that are being provided will help these graduates acculturate. I am also hopeful that programs like the Connecticut Nurses' Foundation's Navigating Change Program will also help with this transition. But, this isn't enough.

Nurses give much and often. I'm asking that we individually and collectively give again and help to provide a safety net, an experienced ear, celebrations of accomplishments and most of all a welcome to each of these nurses as they make their way through the unchartered waters of the first year. Be a part of the process that decreases our new graduate turnover, effects the quality of patient care positively and brings the novice to expert.

References:

HRSA Registered Nurse Supply, Demand and Shortage Projections for Connecticut, 2004

Meyer, G., Lavin, M.A. (June 23, 2005). "Vigilance: The Essence of Nursing" Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Available: http://nursingworld.org/ojin/topic22 /tpc22_6.htm

Polly T. Barey, RN, MS