HJNO Jul/Aug 2022

42 JUL / AUG 2022 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS NURSING in making a better equipped, more well-rounded, more capable new nurse, but also in finding the best de- partment fit for those nurses. Work environment • Educate new nurses to stand up for themselves and not be bullied by more experienced nurses. Even though employers may say they do not tolerate bullying in the work- place, looking the other way is ac- cepting the behavior. • I personally was happy to finally have a steady job and was very grate- ful and lucky to get a job in the field I wanted right out of school. However, after working as a nurse for over a year, it is unfair to have the pay that we do for the amount that we work. Salary • I do not think there is a problem with finding a job in Louisiana. The prob- lem is that we are short on nurses, and we are not paid enough. Most of the loyal workers are leaving to do travel nursing. I think if the pay was increased or if they offered to pay off our student loans, then more nurses would stay. • The starting pay is ridiculous in our area. We can move one state over and make almost double. Many nurs- es leave. The only reason I stayed is because my family lives here. COVID • It concerns me that many hospitals in Louisiana have adopted a policy of requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for employment. I believe a COVID-19 vaccine mandate does and will con- tinue to negatively impact the nurs- ing shortage and ability to secure stable employment. • The COVID pandemic really sucked and totally ruined my mental health for the duration that it occurred. Recommendations Recommendations that stem from this report include but are not limited to the following: • Implement collaborative, innovative academic-practice partnerships be- tween pre-RN nursing programs in universities and community colleges and healthcare systems that will cre- ate an environment that allows the NLRN to attain the critical thinking, clinical, communication, and pro- fessional skills that are needed to become a safe, effective, compas- sionate member of the nursing pro- fession. • Develop accredited comprehensive nurse residency programs across the state that will allow for a seamless transition from academia to practice for NLRNs. • Develop nurse mentoring/coaching programs for NLRNS that will allow them to achieve competency, confi- dence, and autonomy as an RN. • Create a work environment that is supportive, safe, and provides op- portunities for NLRNs to increase their skills and advance profession- ally within the organization. • Utilize innovative strategies such as flex scheduling and decreased nurse- to-patient ratios on large units, such as medical surgical units, to create an environment where NLRNs can enhance their skills, feel valued and productive, and grow as leaders. • Explore the role of repayment of stu- dent loans as a deterrent to NLRNs advancing their education. LCN will continue to repeat the NLRN Survey every two years as we monitor trends in hiring practices experienced by NLRNs. As changes occur in the state’s healthcare system, economy, and nurs- ing workforce, we will continue to rely on data from these and other LCN surveys to better inform policy makers, schools of nursing, prospective nursing students, and other interested stakeholders. n REFERENCES 1 Hofler, L.; Thomas, K. “Transition of New Grad- uate Nurses to the Workforce: Challenges and Solutions in the Changing Health Care Environ- ment.” North Carolina Medical Journal 77, no. 2 (2016): 133-136. 2 Orlowski, C. and Berg, J. “California Newly li- censed RN Employment Survey 2019.” Health- Impact (January 2019). Retrieved from https:// healthimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/ California-Newly-Licensed-RN-Employment- Survey-Report-of-Findings-Fall-2018-FINAL- Jan-2019.pdf 3 Feeg, V.; Mancino, D. J. (2018). “New Graduates’ First Jobs and Future Plans: Debt, Employers, and Education Prospects.” National Student Nurses Association, Dean’s Notes 40, no.1 (Sum- mer 2018): 1-5. “I believe a COVID-19 vaccine mandate does and will continue to negatively impact the nursing shortage and ability to secure stable employment.”