Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1241832
40 Working Nurse l WorkingNurse.com April 27–June 15, 2020 Jennifer R. Castaldo, RN, BSN, MSHA, NEA-BC Vice President / Chief Nursing Officer Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital My message to new registered nurses drawn to a specific spe- cialty is quite simple: A nurse's intuition is a powerful force. It will help you to make better decisions, regardless of where and in what specialty you choose to practice. I hope that all new graduates entering the profession will have encountered professors and mentors who understand the impor- tance of imagination and intuition. Whether you are entering the workforce for the first time or a seasoned RN involved in training others, your intuition is your most valuable asset. My role is to ensure that all our registered nurses, including our new graduates, are supported and receive the training they need to provide the best care possible for the patient popula- tion they wish to serve, whatever their individual specialties. Derek Drake, RN, DNP, NE-BC, CNML, CNL Chief Nursing Officer St. Francis Medical Center I absolutely, 100 percent disagree that nurses must "earn their stripes" before transitioning to specialty practice. We don't require physician specialists to "earn their stripes" in general practice medicine, so why should we do the same for nurses? I firmly believe that with the training, precepting and men- torship, any new graduate can be successful in just about any area of specialty practice. I myself was hired as a new graduate in a very busy and complex surgical/trauma ICU. I was suc- cessful because of my previous healthcare experience, training, education, leadership team, educators, preceptors and men- tors (whom I still rely on to this day). I believe in, encourage and practice hiring new graduates into specialty practice areas. As CNO, I try to replicate as closely as I can the strong foundations my new graduate pro- gram provided me. Katie Hughes, RN, MSN, CRRN Chief Nursing Officer Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare I am often impressed by the level of critical thinking and knowl- edge new graduates possess and have no doubt that a new grad can be successful moving straight into specialty practice. However, I still believe that med/surg is a great place for nurses to start out. A nurse who starts in a specialty area of nursing may be limited later if they want to pursue a different career course. Med/surg provides exposure to a wide variety of illnesses and interventions and is great for honing time- management and patient assessment skills. It provides a solid foundation on which to build a career in nursing. I think this is particularly important for nurses who plan to pursue a career as an advanced practice nurse. I certainly believe my experience working in med/surg — first as a CNA and later as a nurse — has helped me to be a better leader. Q: As the average education level of new graduate nurses increases, some prefer to go directly into specialty practice. Do you think new grad RNs should "earn their stripes" in bedside med/surg before moving on to other specialties? Does your hospital require or encourage this practice? New Grads at the Bedside CNO ROUNDTABLE