In August 2023, Jocelyn Manalo, RN, a staff nurse at the San Francisco Medical Center, helped develop a new group, supporting recent graduates as they transition from students to nursing professionals. While Kaiser Permanente has an existing three‑month graduate support group focused on clinical knowledge, Jocelyn and team identified an opportunity to further support new nurses.
“We decided we needed a way to support recent graduates with their education and give them a different forum where they can ask questions and discuss they don’t know a lot about with senior nurses,” said Manalo.
The new group meets monthly, having anywhere between 4 to 8 students, allowing graduates to inquire about KP workflows, policies, procedures, clinical matters, and any other topics they feel are important.
How has the new support group helped recent graduates?
“You finish school and then you enter the workforce, working 4 to 5 days a week. It’s a very stressful time, so the new graduate group is an opportunity for them to come together, discuss shared experiences, and work with experienced nurses,” details Manalo.
Typically, two topics are discussed at each meeting. Proper blood product administration is the act of giving any blood product and is an example of a topic discussed in the support group. “Giving blood can be daunting, especially for a recent graduate. There are distinct steps, and you need to understand what you are looking for in the patient as you administer it,” explains Manalo.
New grad Jorrane Martin, BSN, RN, PHN, says the meetings have been invaluable in bridging the gap between theory and practice. “They’ve helped me understand the expectations of my role and how to navigate the complexities of patient care effectively. Hearing from fellow new grads about their experiences has provided additional insights and reassurance as we navigate this journey together.”
The San Francisco Medical Center has retained 100% of new grads from the 2023 cohorts.