New Nurses: Your Road Map for Professional Success

There is one positive effect of the staffing shortage across health care … unprecedented chances for professional growth.

“There has NEVER been a better time for new periop nurses to advance professionally, whether moving into leadership, perfecting skills in a surgical specialty, or moving directly into ambulatory care,” according to Jeanine Watson, MSN, RN, CNOR(E), AORN Senior Manager, Ambulatory Surgery.

So, what’s holding you back?

Watson says, “the lack of clinical practice through COVID could leave fresh-out-of-school nurses feeling so overwhelmed with gaining confidence in the basics like starting an IV, doing an assessment or getting used to documentation that they struggle with orienting to a specialty at the same time.”

Watson suggests these 3 critical first steps to navigate professional periop opportunities::

1. Find a Mentor

“Whether it’s a preceptor or a nurse mentor, a new nurse MUST find a coach to help navigate the complexities of periop practice,” Watson stresses.

This coaching from a mentor can help field questions to build clinical acumen, as well as professional know-how and situational awareness (such as understanding evidence-based practice and protecting yourself from legal risk).

Where to look

Seek a mentor through professional networking opportunities such as your local AORN chapter or AORN’s annual conference in San Antonio, TX, April 1–4.

2. Focus on General Nursing Practice Skills While Evaluating Specialties
   Don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t know something so you can ask your preceptor and make sure your general nursing skills are dialed in, Watson suggests.

“If you are unsure about something in your clinical orientation or daily practice, you have to ask and make sure you understand what you are to do why, when, and how.”

Specific to surgical specialties, Watson says new periop nurses can gain valuable experience by working in facilities that offer multiple specialties. 

“Gaining competence in multiple specialties is generally a longer orientation process and provides a broader foundation of knowledge and experience the nurse can pull from later.” 

For those who want to specialize in one area, she suggests seeking out training programs for specialty teams that are now often open to newer nurses due to the shortage, including trauma, transplant, gastrointestinal (GI), cardiology and more. 

What can help

Look to Periop 101 for a solid grounding in general nursing practices—both professional and clinical. For specialty-specific education, explore Periop 202 modules such as Orthopedic Trauma, GI and cardiology procedures.

3. Plan Your Professional Trajectory Now

Get your mentor’s perspective on the current job market and where they see opportunities for new nurses to advance, Watson suggests.

For example, Watson says the unprecedented increase in orthopedic, gastrointestinal, and cardiac procedures moving to the ambulatory setting is opening opportunities for newer nurses to gain skills in a focused specialty while developing valuable cross-training skills across all phases of periop care.

What to consider

Watson does caution that nurses who specialize in one area early in their career may quickly become experts in one area, while remaining a novice in another. 

“The new nurse should evaluate their area of passion or seek opportunities to determine what their passion is. They should consider long-term goals and seek experiences and growth opportunities in that direction.”