New Grad RN Programs (2023)

FAQs

Is it hard being a new grad nurse? ›

There is no shame in being a struggling new grad nurse. Being a new nurse is very overwhelming. Starting a new job is tough already, let alone an entirely new role with much more responsibility that ultimately puts you in charge of the life and safety of other people.

Performance anxiety, fear of making mistakes, lack of confidence in nursing skills, communicating with doctors, exhaustion from workload demands, and having the responsibility of your own patients can be a lot to handle in your first year.

Imposter syndrome is very common among nurses. New graduate nurses and nurses in any stage of career transition particularly deal with this phenomenon. To a degree, imposter syndrome is a relatively normal feeling and is a very real experience.

But, one study found that a staggering 17% - 30% of new nurses leave their job within the first year and up to 56% leaving within the second year.

The first year of nursing school is hard because you're starting a new venture. Not only are you learning new information specific to your industry, but you'll also be putting that education into action. Learning facts is much different than practicing them, so stretching yourself in this new way can be demanding.

If you become a nurse, your first year on the job is often the hardest. Being in a new environment, suddenly having to use new skills, and the new responsibility of being a nurse hit you all at once. It can be overwhelming. This is how to survive the first (and maybe hardest) year of being a nurse.

While new nurses possess the clinical skills to succeed, she cautions that they "have to find the order that works best for utilizing those skills. It generally takes 1-2 years to truly find your 'flow' and feel comfortable."

When does the “new nurse anxiety” start to go away? Anxiety starts to decrease about 6 months to a year. When you reflect back from when you first started you will notice you feel more confident and the anxiety is dramatically decreased.

It is best as a new nurse to first get 1 year of consistent experience before moving to another specialty. However, withe current nursing Covid environment and shortage of nurses you can always apply to other specialty positions and see what happens.

How can a new graduate nurse overcome anxiety? ›

Have self-compassion and give yourself grace: Self-compassion is the ability to become mindful of your own distress and work to alleviate it. If you're feeling discouraged and anxious as a new nurse, offer yourself the same loving kindness you would offer a friend dealing with the same situation.

Night shift is great for new nurses, because there is more downtime to learn. Day shift can be overwhelming for a new grad, so I suggest trying the nightlife until you get the hang of things. It allows for more time to look at your patient's chart and learn why you are doing what you are doing.

Reflect on your weaknesses

Spending too much time on paperwork. Paying too much attention to detail. Attempting to complete too many tasks at once. A lack of clinical experience, which may apply to recent graduates or new nurses.

In general the same difficulty… at least for most companies and programs. New grads just have more rounds and may have the addition of behavioral and system design.

In the United States overall, the average registered nurse salary is $82,750 and the median (50th percentile) is $77,600. California, with RN salaries averaging $124,000, is the highest-paying state for nurses as of May 2021 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Another recent report by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing found about 100,000 registered nurses left the profession since 2020. More than 600,000 intend to leave by 2027 due to stress, burnout and retirement.

RN turnover increased by 8.4 percent in 2021 but fell by 4.6 percent to 22.5 percent in 2022. The median turnover rate was 21.7 percent, ranging from 6.5 percent to 64.5 percent.

Pharmacology. Pharmacology, or the study of medication, can seem scary because of the sheer scope of the course. "It becomes one of the hardest classes for nursing students due to the depth and amount of knowledge needed," says Megan Lynch, RN and instructor at Pima Community College.

Without question, the most difficult semester for me was the last semester of my junior year in nursing school. I attended a 4-year BSN program, and that particular semester included three classes that were very content-heavy, as well as the corresponding clinical hours for those classes.

Nursing school is extremely stressful, and many nursing students fail out of their program because they don't take time to relax and unwind. Stress can cause you to retain information poorly, and it puts a strain on the mind and body.

Is it common to fail nursing class? ›

Many nursing schools require a minimum grade of roughly 80% to actually pass, as well. By the time you realize you aren't doing well enough to be successful in the course, the choices can be pretty limited. Failure happens all the time. It happens every day...

It occurs only in specific situations. The new graduate‟s performance is the focus of attention and evaluation. Further, the need to interact with other professionals, patients, and families can create anxiety about performance.

Keep your resume to one page. You will see guidance that this isn't of concern anymore, but we hold that it's best to adhere with standard practice. Plus, your resume will likely be reviewed alongside a full nursing application, so there will be plenty of information provided to the hiring manager.

It is possible to negotiate a higher salary as a new nurse. There is no rule book that says you can't. No one will scold you or punish you if you negotiate. As a matter of fact, according to the 2019 Job Seeker Nation Survey report from Jobvite, your potential employer expects it.

To answer this question quickly and succinctly: No, absolutely not, get that out of your head. There is no “appropriate age for nursing school.” We have had students from age 18 to 55 years old in our NCLEX Exam Prep Course and all of them go on to become great nurses.

When you think of nursing school, you likely envision young people 18–24, but there are actually many nurses who don't get their RNs until their 30s, 40s, or 50s! You're not too old just because you're older than the average student. In fact, there are a lot of benefits to becoming a nurse later in life.

Reality shock theorizes that those new to the nursing profession go through a learning and growing transition. This process is characterized by four phases: honeymoon, shock, recovery, and resolution.

What is the shortest nursing career? ›

ADN and Related Programs

The way to become an RN with the lowest level of education is to go through an associate's degree in nursing, or ADN program. Most ADN programs are two years long and held at community colleges. There are numerous options to choose from, including part-time and full-time programs.

12 hour shifts are legal. However, the regulations generally require that there should be a break of 11 consecutive hours between each 12 hour shift. We believe that no shift should be longer than 12 hours, and that a 12 hour shift may not be appropriate for all nurses.

Can I Be a Nurse If I Have Anxiety? Absolutely. Pre-existing mental health conditions do not preclude individuals from being a successful nurse.

Many will argue that med-surg work is the heart of nursing and provides new grads with the foundational skills they will need to move on to other specialties later, if they so choose. And frankly, the easiest and fastest way to get a job as a new grad is to go to a med/surg floor.

And the answer is "Yes!" The night shift can be significantly easier to start with for new nurses. It doesn't have the overwhelming stress of many patients and doctors going in and out. On the contrary, the night shift will enable you to learn at a slower pace.

Sample Answer:

A time when I felt like I had failed was during nursing school. I had a hard time working through a skills lab and felt like I was failing as a nursing student. I had limited experience going in and it seemed like everyone else was easily grasping the skills.

Your answer to the "tell me about yourself" question should describe your current situation, your past job experience, the reason you're a good fit for the role, and how you align with the company values. Tell the interviewer about your current position and a recent big accomplishment or positive feedback you received.

What are my strengths as a nurse? ›

Having empathy to interact with the patient and their family and helping them to cope with problems is very important in a nursing position. Having the ability to understand and share those feelings with the patient and their loved ones is an essential strength for a nurse.

Once your interview and travel schedule has been finalized, it's time to prepare for the interviews. While the days prior to your first interview weekend may seem overwhelming, take a deep breath and remember how far you've made it. Depending on the program, post-interview acceptance rates vary from 50-75 percent.

Feeling like an idiot as a new nurse is normal. Feelings of being an imposter, incompetence, anxiety and stress are common too. But asking for help, taking your time, being a sponge, reading new policies and often just having a go to person will help you find your feet, build confidence and resistance.

In the United States overall, the average registered nurse salary is $82,750 and the median (50th percentile) is $77,600. California, with RN salaries averaging $124,000, is the highest-paying state for nurses as of May 2021 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Can an Introvert Be a Nurse? Introverts can pursue a career in nursing. Whether you're a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or certified nursing assistant (CNA), you'll be well-positioned to apply the skills and character traits you have as an introvert to your everyday work.