When a new nursing graduate is hired, the unspoken truth is that KHSC wants them to be happy in their work, feel supported, and stay for many years.
It starts with orientation. Each new hire is assigned a mentor, the buddy they are paired with during their initial learning period.
There is a significant amount of literature showing that mentorship supports new graduates. It helps build competence and confidence, increases job satisfaction, reduces turnover, promotes professional development, and provides a strong support system. KHSC offers the Mentor Education Program, which nurses can sign up for through the intranet whether they are new to mentorship or have experience. It is a paid opportunity.
To provide real‑time support, KHSC created the Clinical Scholar role. An experienced nurse with strong communication and teaching skills is available 7 days a week on days and evenings until 11 p.m. to help with education and practice questions. If a nurse has never inserted a Foley catheter, changed a chest tube dressing or needs help interpreting a policy, they can contact the Clinical Scholar through Vocera and request assistance. The list of possible questions is far too long to capture here, and none of them are considered stupid.
Clinical teachers, charge nurses, managers, resource nurses and the team working on the unit during each shift are also there to answer questions and help new graduates feel supported. Sometimes you do not know what you do not know until a situation arises. Questions are encouraged. I actually feel nervous when new graduates do not ask questions because there is so much they have not experienced yet. So please ask many questions.
Even after nearly 50 years in the profession, I still aim to learn one new thing every time I come to work.
To learn more about career opportunities at KHSC, please visit kingstonhsc.ca/working-and-volunteering.
Kathleen Boucher is a registered nurse with nearly five decades of experience in healthcare, an award-winning author, certified lifestyle coach, and certified stress and wellness consultant. Since beginning her nursing career in 1977, she has been a passionate advocate for both patient care and the wellbeing of healthcare professionals. She is the author of Healing Canadian Healthcare: Ideas to Improve Nursing Enrolment & Retention, written in response to the critical nursing shortage facing Canada and the global healthcare community.
