What Do New Graduates Expect?

Welcoming New Employees  Establishing the Connection  Greeting New Staff  Individualizing Orientation  Acceptance in the Workgroup  Checking Periodically  Supporting New Staff

“New graduates do not want people to assume they know how to do tasks, but to accept them as novices.” Lynne M. Connelly

Stages of Clinical Competence Novice Advanced Beginner Competent Proficient Expert Benner, P. (1984). From Novice to Expert: Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice. Menlo Park: Addison-Wesley, pp

NOVICE No experience. Expect to be taught rules to help them perform. These rules are universal rules. Behavior is limited and inflexible. “Just tell me what I need to do and I’ll do it.”

ADVANCED BEGINNER Demonstrates a marginally acceptable performance. Have had some real experiences. Experiences have been pointed out to them by mentor.

ADVANCED BEGINNER Experience recurring meaningful situational components. Principles to guide their actions begin to be formulated. Principles are based on experience.

COMPETENT Nurses who have been on the job 2-3 years. When the nurse sees his/her actions in goals in which he/she is aware of. This goal includes conscious, abstract, analytical contemplation of the problem.

COMPETENT This type of planning helps the nurse achieve efficiency and organization. Possesses a feeling of mastery and coping with situations during clinical nursing.

PROFICIENT Perceives the situation as whole rather than pieces. Perceives the meaning in relation to long term goals. Learns from experience what to expect and how to modify.

PROFICIENT Can recognize when the expected does not happen. Holistic understanding improves decision making. Can identify the important features in a situation, analyze and understand the overall situation.

EXPERT Enormous background experience. Has an intuitive grasp of each situation and focuses on the problem. Operates from a deep understanding of the total situation.

EXPERT Performance becomes fluid, flexible and highly proficient. Uses highly skilled analytical abilities in situations when there is a wrong grasp of the situation or behaviors are not occurring as expected.

The Wish List Orientation programs that identify new graduate needs and assist in acclimation to the new work environment. Provide an ongoing mentoring program.

The Wish List Train new nurses in communication skills. Explain the mission and culture of the workplace. Involve new graduates in decision making and shared governance activities.

The Wish List Provide constructive feedback daily. Express gratitude and appreciation for a job well done.

Which Fish Are You? Thank you for your attention!