What the nursing service director expects

Nursing education has been taking some progressive steps in preparing new graduates. The young graduate can give good physical care and sensitive emotional support, particularly if she is encouraged to do so. We need more effective leadership on many of our nursing units and new approaches to providing continuity of nursing care among all personnel on various shifts. The high turnover rates are exhausting to those who are trying to maintain the continuity of nursing care. Short-term employment makes it very difficult and costly to provide the guidance, encouragement, and assistance that new graduates have the right to expect. I believe, however, that the employer also has the right to expect employees to select a position carefully and then plan to invest of themselves in the position for a minimum of one year. Nursing administrators need to be better prepared educationally to provide the organization and climate for effective nursing care. Nursing service and nursing education need each other and must explore every means of communicating with each other about our common goal of improved nursing care.