I was pleasantly surprised that within the two new graduates we met on the presentation day, they had two varying different paths. Usually in nursing school they inadvertently guide you towards a more bedside focused career path, especially as a new grade. One of the new grads after working for a couple of months on a med surg floor knew that it wasn’t the path they wanted to keep on going. It was refreshing to know that there are many more options than being a bedside nurse. I didn’t even know that being a care manager was a job title nurses can do, especially as a new grad. From that experience, as silly as it sounds, it verified for me that yes, I can choose to leave a job that I am unhappy in even if it has only been a few months.
As a new grad nurse, I am looking for a supportive program that helps me empower myself and my skills as I navigate the transition from school to the working field. It is important to me that I have resources I can turn to for questions, especially since I would be so new. I do not want to feel unprepared and unsafe taking care of my patients. It is also crucial that I have at least one main preceptor that can track my progress and know what I’m capable of. I have a more introverted personality, and I know I will have trouble advocating for myself. I have difficulty knowing if I need to be pushed and when I need to stop pushing so hard that I burn myself out. I want to be part of a team that supports this growth and helps me in the direction I want for my career moving forward.
