The last semester of nursing school is coming up fast, and it got me thinking…what makes a good new nurse and how can we help them?  

Now, from a manager’s perspective and a floor nurse’s perspective are two different things. I have been on both sides of the struggle. I believe a lot of the qualities overlap. As a manager, you expect an employee to finish your mandatory company education on time, show up, and not kill patients.  

As a floor nurse, you expect your coworkers to know what they’re doing and not be an asshole. I expect my coworkers to have good clinical skills and a good attitude. There is nothing more frustrating than a coworker with a bad attitude or one who’s lazy. I would rather work with someone who has less knowledge but is willing to learn, than someone who’s a know-it-all and lazy. That’s the nurse who is going to kill people. 

When I was a preceptor, I was the last ditch effort to take over the “bad” orientees. It was up to me to decide if a new nurse was going to make it or not. I had one simple rule when I was precepting new grads, you don’t get off of orientation until I thought you were competent to take care of me. I was very upfront with my orientees about this “rule”.      

I am happy to say, I have never recommended a new nurse to be fired or transferred to another unit. 99% of the time, the new nurse didn’t get along with their previous preceptor. Now, I understand not everyone gets along. I would be naïve to think we all play nice together. On the other hand, it’s a damn shame we can’t nurture the new generation of nurses.  

For the most part, new nurses need nurturing, not hand-holding. You will be the one to teach them how to be a good nurse and this doesn’t happen in the few months of orientation. It’s ok to be frustrated with patients and families, but it’s not ok to lose your shit in front of new nurses. It’s ok to bitch about your shift, but it’s not ok to be a bitch. It’s ok to be sick and call out but it’s not ok to be the one your coworkers take bets on to see if you show up. It is up to us to instill good habits early in new grads, and that’s what makes you a great nurse!