From Novice to Expert
Written by LeAnn Thieman, CSP
As a nurse motivational speaker, I had the grand privilege of presenting at Avera Health’s Nursing Conference in South Dakota last week. The highlight of the event was the award ceremony at the end. One award that stood out for me was the Novice to Expert award. This award honors a nurse who has practiced for less than three years. The nominee must demonstrate clinical leadership and contribute energy, commitment, and enthusiasm to the profession.
Mentoring new nurses is one of the key strategies in my Each One Reach One Nurse initiative. 20% of first year nurses quit! With the nursing shortage facing this nation, we cannot afford that. Mentoring a new nurse is a great investment.
I’ve done a lot of research about for my new keynote, What is This Generation Coming To? Coping with Generational Differences in the Workplace. Experts know that the “young” millennial require more attention the first year on the job, yet they are eager to learn and grow as a nurse and as a person. Giving them proper mentoring results in a long term, committed employee, one eligible for the Novice to Expert award.
If you don’t have an effective mentoring program for your new nurses, create one soon to help retain your nurses. To learn more ways to recruit and retain your nurses, contact me