The New Graduate RN Development Program was developed in 1998 to support New Graduate registered nurses as they transition to their professional role. The first three to six months of a new graduate RN's career have been identified as one of the most stressful times in a nurse's career (Fisher & Connelly, 1989). Recent literature suggests that within this first year 35-60% of new graduate RN's change their place of employment (Matthews & Nunley, 1992).

This program is designed to assist the new nurse to negotiate the often-challenging transition from student to professional nurse. Through the identification and support of a mentor as well as two all day sessions the new graduate is able to explore and understand the transition to the professional role at MGH. In the first session new graduates and mentors discuss the theory of skill acquisition and strategies to assist with socialization to their professional role. From skill acquisition, new graduates learn that the conflicted feelings they have of their work is normal and best of all they know that they are not alone in feeling this way. In the second session caring practices, communication, conflict management and ethics are discussed. In this session they discuss the challenges in caring for patients and families under stress and ways they can care for themselves. They learn ways to communicate more effectively with their colleagues and peers and manage the conflict that working in a highly stressful environment can breed. A source of conflict can be the ethical challenges faced by all that work in health care. The numerous supports available to them are discussed as well as the principles of ethical decision-making.

The program is designed to allow for open discussion and sharing among mentors and new graduates and to foster a culture of support and learning.

Session 1 is held the first Wednesday of the month and Session 2 the third Wednesday of the month. Both sessions are held 8-2 in Charles River Plaza classroom, second floor.