What Is a Graduate Nurse and How to Become One
What Does a Graduate Nurse Do?
As a graduate nurse (GN), your job is to work in a nursing department while pursuing your certification as a registered nurse (RN). This is a transitional status between nursing student and RN, and most GNs receive full accreditation within six months of graduating from college. Your primary responsibilities in this position include almost anything a regular nurse may do, including providing health care in areas like surgery, adult medicine, neonatal care, or an emergency department. The main difference between this and regular nursing work is that graduate nurses must be supervised by a registered nurse when providing care to a patient. This supervision is mandatory in all states.
What Are the Requirements to Be a Graduate Nurse?
The primary qualifications for becoming a graduate nurse (GN) are successfully graduating from a nursing school and obtaining provisional status. This involves getting authorization to sit for the RN licensing exam and providing documents demonstrating your eligibility to take the exam. Some hospitals have other requirements and may limit you to certain shifts or departments. Spots for graduate nurses typically open up throughout the year based on the needs of a medical facility. Fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of this position requires both a commitment to providing quality care to patients and actively pursuing RN certification. You may need to demonstrate your skills to your employer during an interview.
