MEMPHIS, TENN., ― Saint Francis Hospital - Memphis is seeking newly graduated nurses to help them transition with confidence from the classroom to the bedside. A new Novice RN Program at the hospital is starting that will group new nursing graduates on a unit where they can continue to learn and adapt to the hospital setting over 12 weeks. There are no more midterm or final exams, but their skills will get put to the test. The novice RNs will be assigned to a particular unit, like the Observation/Medical-Surgical – Telemetry unit, which will be staffed by novice RNs paired with experienced preceptors and supported by the clinical education team. The senior nurses will oversee the progress of the novice RNs to help them transition into the professional nursing role.

The nurses will also gain experience working in Oncology under the training and supervision of West Clinic physicians as part of Saint Francis’s partnership with West Clinic.

“We recognize that during the pandemic, there were fewer opportunities for nurses to get actual clinical experience in an inpatient setting, and that can make the transition into providing patient care in a hospital intimidating,” said Cameron Murphy, chief nursing officer of Saint Francis Hospital - Memphis. “In partnership with area nursing schools, we are looking to recruit brand new nurses to our team and provide them with the clinical experience they may have missed out on due to the pandemic. We want to provide a safe and caring environment for new and more seasoned nurses to collaborate in the name of delivering high-quality care.”

The National Institute of Health (NIH) notes that in an article from Nurse Education Today, many hospitals had to shut down in-person training programs during the pandemic for future nurses trying to complete their clinical rotations.  The fear of exposure and spread of COVID-19 prevented many new nurses from getting the on-site training they normally get and need to feel confident caring for patients.   With more than 500,000 seasoned RNs anticipated to retire in the United States by the end of this year, the American Nurses Association says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the need for 1.1 million new RNs for the expansion and replacement of retirees.  This combined with the national nursing shortage led staff members of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to establish a task force to investigate and develop recommendations for addressing the workforce shortages in nursing and allied health in the area.  Partnering with area schools to create learning opportunities, like the Novice RN Program Saint Francis Hospital - Memphis instituted, is among those recommendations.

At the center of this program is a commitment to deliver the right care, in the right place, at the right time, and to continually strive to improve and advance the healthcare delivery system in the communities we serve.  

Nurses who participate will receive competitive pay and benefits within the market and have opportunities for career growth within their first year of graduation. For more information on joining the Novice RN Program at Saint Francis Hospital - Memphis, please contact Shaska Graham in the human resources department at 901-765-1961.