Preparing for my first day as a Nurse!!

Nurses New Nurse

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I am a new grad RN (Aug 2012) and have somehow managed to get a job on the MedSurg/Tele Unit in an acute care hospital in Southern California!!! WooHoo! My start date is in 2 weeks. Now what?!? School has prepared me for the mechanics of nursing, but they didn't really go into depth on personal preparations/supplies. I don't want to go in looking like Super Nurse reporting for duty, but I also don't want to look like an ill prepared new grad without a clue (yeah, right ~ hehehe).

How many pairs of shoes should I have?

Socks vs stockings?

How many sets of scrubs?

Tools of the trade: Stethoscope, mini calculator, scissors, flashlight, drug book, and pens....... Am I missing something?

So excited, yet terrified at the same time. Any input, suggestions or recommendations are welcome! Thanks!!

Specializes in Wilderness Medicine, ICU, Adult Ed..
Bring everything in a backpack.

And in that back pack have an extra set of scrubs, panties, and socks, all in a plastic (water proof) bag. Just do it. You will find out why soon enough.

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If strong odors make you a little queasy at times bring a small jar of Vicks VapoRub to keep in your locker. I have had to use mine a few times. Place a small amount under your nose or inside your mask.

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Thank you again, everyone, for your advise, suggestions, recommendations, and encouragement! I'm off and running next week! I'll post an update after that..... IF I survive ~ LOL!!!! :sarcastic:

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Specializes in Emergency; med-surg; mat-child.
mini sharpie

QFT. I loooove my mini sharpies. I have a red and a black hanging on my lanyard and I use them for marking samples, noting abnormals, writing notes, whatever. Super handy. Target carries them, and maybe WM, I'm not sure.

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I have survived my first 5 shifts on the floor - YAY!!! And so far, so good ~ I'm loving every insane/crazy minute of it :yes:!! I really appreciate all the great information everyone gave me in preparation for this big event! Your encouragement, feedback, recommendations and support were greatly appreciated!

Concerning scrubs, I bought 3 different pairs, each one a different style, to see which ones I liked the best (found out the more pockets the better) so now I know what brand I want more of! Have lost (and found) 1/2 a dozen pens and love having my own sharpie and white board markers. Only took the basics on the floor with me (stethoscope, penlight, scissors & hemos) and left the rest in my locker.

Bought good othro inserts for my shoes (and broke them in), and so far, so good (feet are tired but not sore - woohoo!)! Still trying to figure out how to get enough water during my shift (not allowed to have any on the floor) but since I haven't yet figured out how to get time to pee, it's all balancing out pretty well - HAHAHA!!! Learned the first day that eating breakfast BEFORE work is a must as I dodn't get a break longer than needed to pee until 6-8 hours into my 12 hour shift. In orientation they said we were allowed 10 mins every 2-3 hours, but I'm not stupid enough to walk off the floor unless my preceptor does! Will be SO glad when flu season is over, they tell me it's not usually this insane/crazy (yeah, right, this is Med/Surg).

Haven't needed to use them yet, but I have a spare set of scrubs/clothes from the skin out (I've heard some pretty harry stories) stashed in my locker, and I'm taking notes, and asking questions like crazy! Doing my best to listen before I speak, and not try to act like I know everything (cause I certainly don't!) LOVE my preceptor (whew) and have had not incidents or indications that they serve up New Grads for dinner on my unit, but it's still early days yet!

Will post an update again when my orientation is up in 6 weeks to let you all know how I faired. Thank you again, everyone!!!

Take care!!!

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If it's a med surg/tele floor, get ready to hustle!

It is, and boy do we!!!

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