Critical Areas of Concern Shared by Senior Level Nursing Students

Critical Areas of Concern Shared by Senior level Nursing Students Related to the Transition from Student Nurse to Practicing Nurse
 
On November 7, 2023, The Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce, Inc. (CCNW) held its 43rd Annual RN Student Day that attracted over 830 senior level nursing students from Connecticut Schools and Programs of Nursing.  During a morning session, Marcia B. Proto, M.ED, CAS, Executive Director of the CCNW, asked each of the (85) tables to select a Table Captain for an activity.  The Table Captain was to engage their peers in open dialogue to identify and capture their thoughts and concerns related to the transition from student nurse to practicing nurse.
 
The student feedback which represents 28% of the current senior level nursing students was a true “eye-opener”. They identified five key areas that students want, and need addressed by both academe and practice related to pre-and post-hire concerns which would help foster a seamless transition to practice for the graduating nursing student and promote retention of the new nurse within the first year.
 
As a result, CCNW will be developing and delivering programming to address these five (5) keys areas to support the leadership of Connecticut’s nursing schools and practice settings via interactive webinars that will be delivered via our professional development “Lunch and Learn Webinar Series” beginning in early 2024. CCNW categorized the student responses and feedback into the following five key areas:

Nursing Student Pre-Hire “Preparation” Concerns:

• Competence/Confidence as New Nurse (not prepared) – 130
• Not Enough Clinical Experience/Skills – 90
• NCLEX -20
• Assistance Post Graduation - 20
• More Opportunities to Shadow Specialty Floors
• More Diversity in Clinical Rotations – not just Med/Surg
• Student Loans
• Finding a Job
• Lack of Specialty Positions
• Want More Info. on Different Options for Where to Work as a Nurse – Not just Bedside
• Resources for Nurses
• Identify additional responsibilities of the role of the nurse

Nursing Student Pre-Hire “Employment” Concerns:

• Wage/Pay - 110
• Safety – 110
• Schedule/Hours -40
• Interviewing -20
• Shadowing - 20
• Insurance
• Get Info. on Nurse Residence Programs before Signing Contract

New Employee Post-Hire “Onboarding/Orientation/Residency” Concerns:

•  Staff to Patient Ratio – 160
• Time Management - 90
• Burnout - 50
• Adequate Orientation/Training – 50
• Med Administration - 50
• Proper Documentation – 40
• Not Enough/No Training Doing IV’s - 40
• Epic/Computer System Training - 30
• Length of Orientation -20
• Putting Skills into Practice – 20
• Talking to Patients Alone
• Emergencies/Rapids
• Need Experience in Charting
• Learn How to do a Care Plan
• Learning to Delegate
• Unintentionally Hurting Someone
• Communication with Families
• Advocate for Yourself as New Nurse

New Employee “Post-Hire” General Employment Concerns:

• Time Management - 90
• Continuing Education – 40
• Support from Peers/Administration - 40
• Malpractice/Lawsuit -30
• Preceptors-Good/Bad - 20
• Interacting/Communication with Doctors -20
• Not Enough Staff Support (CNA’s) - 20
• Being Accepted by Senior Nurses -20
• Micromanagement
• Turnover
• Not Enough Senior Nurses
• Given Work No One Else Wants Because You’re a New Grad
• Being a Charge Nurse
• Precepting Another Nurse
• Not Getting Respect from Other Nurses/Doctors/Lack of Support
• Lack of Growth
• How to get Involved in Nursing Policy

Post-Hire “Support Services and Programming” Needs:

• Time Management - 90
• Self-Care - 50
• Bullying - 30
• Stress Management - 30
• Mental Health -30
• Work-Life Balance - 30
• Dealing with Conflict – 20
• Coping with Death -20
• Hospital Protocol
• Finding your Passion

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OTHER Comments Captured:

• So many are telling me I should leave the profession, and I am not even an RN yet!
• I am burned out and I haven’t even transitioned to practice yet.
• Not enough information provided on all the options of nursing.  The only information I ever hear is about being a bedside nurse, but I know there are more options!
• Which hospital pays the most?
• Why be a nurse?  Is it really worth it?

 
 CALL to Action:
CCNW would like to engage and identify Connecticut stakeholders to share best-practices in the above areas so we can amplify this work in our 2024 professional development “Lunch and Learn Webinar Series” and scale these practices statewide and support the preparation and onboarding of our future nursing workforce in CT!
 
Please reach out to Marcia B. Proto, Executive Director of the CCNW via phone at 203-494-112, or [email protected] to share your thoughts and insights!