New Grad RN, First Job, Any Tips?

[BowHunterRN]

I just got hired on a med/surg floor. I start orientation next week, and I'm very excited. I just was wondering if anyone had any tips for beginning work. Like, what all should I bring with me? Any charting tips? Organization skills? I was going to purchase a clipboard and use that for all of my assessments, is that a good idea? I'll also be on rotating shifts, and have never worked a midngiht shift before, so was wondering how everyone makes their bodies adjust to that? Sorry for all these seemingly unimportant questions, I'm just curious how others begin their shifts. Thanks for the help!

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

You should browse this forum and read some of the threads here. Several of them cover your questions fairly well.

[Karen]

I have found new nurses have difficulty with lab values.

Also, I rotated shifts when I was just out of school and found the back and forth on sleeping made me a wreck in more ways than one (I even rearended someone, however minor, because I dozed off at a red light coming home) The solution for me was to just work nights until a daytime position opened up. I also found night shift had less in the way of doctors, testing, family members and had more time to focus on the patient (and learn more) plus more money.