9 Strategies For Experienced Nurses To Help New Grad Nurses Stay Positive At Work


Written By: Darby FaubionDarby Faubion RN, BSN, MBA

Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Darby lives in Louisiana and loves exploring the state’s rich culture and history. Darby has a passion for caring for veterans and a special interest in those affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. In her quest to make a difference for veterans, she founded a non-profit called “Operation Battle Buddy.” Read Full Bio »»
RN, BSN, MBA

Do you remember what it was like just graduating from nursing school and getting started in your career? I don’t know about you, but I can remember times when I was not sure if I was nauseated because I was so excited or because I was scared to death! Thank goodness I had the opportunity to work with experienced nurses who took me in and mentored me. One of the greatest lessons I learned was how to maintain a positive attitude at work.

If you are a nurse who wants to make a positive impact on new nurses, helping them see the good in what they do and teaching them to have a positive attitude is one of the best ways you can do that! Maybe you have thought of mentoring other nurses and wonder, “what strategies can experienced nurses implement to help new grad nurses maintain a positive attitude at work?” In this article, I will share some of my personal experiences and 9 strategies for experienced nurses to help new grad nurses stay positive at work. Remember, we are all in this together, and if you can make a difference for one new nurse grad, it can impact limitless others!


What Strategies Can Experienced Nurses Implement To Help New Grad Nurses Maintain A Positive Attitude At Work?

(The following are the 9 strategies for experienced nurses to help new grad nurses stay positive at work.)


STRATEGY #1: Create an Atmosphere that Makes New Nurses Feel Welcome

If we are honest, we have all felt out of place at one time or another. When you feel like that at work, it can be intimidating, which may lead to poor attitudes. Perhaps one of the easiest strategies to help new grad nurses maintain a positive attitude at work is to create an atmosphere that makes them feel welcome.

Making new nurses feel welcome is not a difficult task. By simply putting forth the effort to introduce yourself and introduce the new nurses to other staff members, you can create a sense of security where they do not feel so overwhelmed by the "unknown." Offer to give them a tour of your unit or facility, making sure they know where to find important supplies and people. If you are not sure where to begin, try to remember what it felt like when you first graduated nursing school and started your new job. What would you have hoped for if you could have chosen the nurses you worked with?


STRATEGY #2: Model Positive Behavior

I remember one of my elderly family members used to say, “A bad attitude is like a bad cough. Once it catches on, it’s hard to get rid of it!” She was right on so many levels! Our attitudes can impact everyone we encounter, from patients, their loved ones, and our coworkers.

One of the best ways to help new grad nurses maintain a positive attitude at work is to model positive behavior yourself. After all, even when you may not realize it, new nurses will look to you to see what behavior is acceptable. They will observe how you handle various situations and how you interact with patients and staff, and, chances are, they will mirror much of the behavior they see in you.


STRATEGY #3: Encourage New Grad Nurses to Ask Questions

Being a new nurse can be exciting and terrifying at the same time. I have worked with nurses who had the attitude that if someone passed their licensing exam, they were "capable of handling the job." While that is true in some instances, it does not mean that new graduate nurses know everything. The period of adjustment from the time a nurse graduates nursing school, passes their licensing exam, and begins work is critical. It is during this time that you can be a vital influence on their success.

As a nurse leader and healthcare educator, I cannot stress enough the importance of being supportive of new grad nurses. If they seem a little confused or unsure, or if you notice they aren’t getting something right, let them know you are available and happy to do what you can to help them get acclimated to their job. The relief that new nurses feel in just knowing they have someone to turn to is enough to help them develop and maintain a positive attitude at work.


STRATEGY #4: Celebrate Their Accomplishments

Something I learned a long time ago was that recognizing efforts and celebrating accomplishments does so much to build team morale. Celebrating accomplishments, no matter how small, is an excellent strategy to help new grad nurses maintain a positive attitude at work. You may never know how much of an impact you have on someone by simply acknowledging their hard work and effort.

For example, a few years ago, I ran into a nursing supervisor that I worked with early in my career. My mind was immediately drawn to a memory of how she treated me on what could have been an awful day at work. I have since made jokes and said I was so new you could “smell the new on me.” As excited as I was, I worried about everything, and wouldn’t you know it... I got assigned to a patient whose doctor had ordered a treatment I had never heard of, not to mention performed!

Back then, we couldn’t just pull out a smartphone or tablet and look something up, which meant I had to ask for help. Instead of making me feel belittled or as if I wasn’t equipped for the job, she asked me questions to help challenge me and show me what I knew and how I could apply it to my patient's scenario. Then, she walked me through the procedure. Afterward, she complimented me on how well I maintained my composure and professionalism and told me that the procedure was done very well. That one instance made a difference in how I viewed myself, my nurse leader, and how I felt about my work. You can have the same impact on new grad nurses by just showing a little support and recognition!


STRATEGY #5: Talk About Ways to Manage Stress Effectively

There is no doubt about it...Nursing is a stressful job. While not all days are bad, when you are a new grad nurse, there are times when stress seems to come from every direction. Unfortunately, stress has a way of bringing out the worst in all of us, making it difficult to keep a positive attitude.

You can implement strategies to help new grad nurses maintain a positive attitude at work by teaching them ways to manage stress on the job. The easiest way to do this is by offering support and guidance, especially in situations where you know the new nurse is working with a difficult patient or performing a procedure that is unfamiliar to them. Take the time to listen if they feel stressed and need someone to talk to. Also, make sure new nurse grads are aware of the resources offered at your facility. Many employers offer stress management workshops, counseling, and employee assistance programs. As someone who has been a nurse for a long time, I can honestly tell you that before it gets to the point of a new grad nurse needing those measures, you can make a significant impact by simply being there for them.


STRATEGY #6: Volunteer to Mentor New Grad Nurses

Have you ever worked with someone who made you feel like you were in the way, or you were a bother to them? It is not a good feeling, especially when you are a new nurse grad. If you want to help new nurses feel at ease and create an atmosphere that fosters positive attitudes, consider volunteering to become a mentor.

At one of my previous jobs, the facility administrator and I worked together to develop a mentorship program for the nursing department. Experienced nurses were paired with new nurse graduates and offered them guidance and support as they went through orientation and training. It was such a wonderful opportunity for both new nurses and the nurses who became mentors. Many of those nurses became good friends. A willingness to mentor others and share your experiences is an excellent way to help boost morale and encourage a positive approach to work, which benefits patients and staff alike.


STRATEGY #7: Promote Professional Development

Something I believe whole-heartedly in is the importance of nurses being lifelong learners. One thing I have seen in my years as a nurse is new nurse grads get out of school and begin work, then don’t know what to do next. They wonder if they need a certification or higher degree, and many of them have no idea what questions to ask. It can leave them feeling stuck, especially after the “new wears off.”

One strategy to help new grad nurses maintain a positive attitude at work is to promote professional development. A new registered nurse may not want to go back and earn a graduate degree or become a nurse practitioner. However, there may be a patient population or specialty that interests them. You can encourage them to get involved in workshops and training that are focused on the things that interest them. If you can get them involved in things that help their professional development, you help promote a sense of belonging and importance in what they do, which makes them feel positive about themselves and their jobs.


STRATEGY #8: Encourage Self-Care

New nurses are often so eager to begin work and make a good impression that they put everyone else before themselves. Because self-care is essential to one’s well-being, it behooves us as experienced nurses to encourage new nurse grads to learn self-care measures and understand why it is important. Self-care is an excellent stress management tool, decreases the risk of anxiety and depression in nurses, and promotes better rest and sleep, which contributes to a positive attitude at work.


STRATEGY #9: Implement Team Building Activities

If you are a nurse leader, one strategy to help new grad nurses maintain a positive attitude at work is to implement team-building activities. Even if you are not a manager or leader, you can discuss the option of team-building activities with your supervisors.

One of the nursing homes I worked at before had monthly staff meetings for the nurses. We tried to make it a fun time, catering lunches and giving away door prizes. We also used team building activities like playing secret number games that required the nurses to work together as teams to figure out problems. It has been my experience that anything you do to encourage nurses to communicate and work together is helpful in setting the tone for a positive work environment.


My Final Thoughts


Having a positive attitude at work is essential for all nurses. It promotes professional growth and job satisfaction. New grad nurses often feel like toddlers stumbling through the day as they try to figure out their role and what to expect. If you are an experienced nurse, you can help them make their transition easier and promote a positive work environment. Before reading this article, you may have wondered, "what strategies can experienced nurses implement to help new grad nurses maintain a positive attitude at work?”

In this article, I shared 9 strategies for experienced nurses to help new grad nurses stay positive at work. By implementing some of these strategies and being a solid go-to person for new nurse grads, you can help contribute to a good work environment, which promotes good patient and team outcomes.


List Of Sources Used For This Article


1. “15 Reasons Why Being a Nurse is Stressful (PLUS How to Overcome)” (nursingprocess.org)
2. “Self-Care for Nurses- 25 Proven Strategies to Take Better Care of Yourself” (nursingprocess.org)


Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Her work history includes clinical experience in pediatrics, mental health, addiction and behavioral disorders, geriatrics, wound management, and communicable disease. Darby has worked in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health and hospice agencies. Darby also has experience as a nursing and allied health educator at both community college and university levels. Her love for nursing and nursing education led to her becoming a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach.