First Year of Nursing Do's and Donts

Nurses New Nurse

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Hey everyone,

I just started my nursing career this monday and so far am learning alot of the organization as a whole and their guidlines. Eventually we will start doing more hands on work and i just wanted to ask those who are experienced in the profession to share any tips and/or things you learned along the way that you wish you knew of as a new nurse. A little about me, i just started a residency program which last 18wks on a ortho trauma unit.

Thanks for your time

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

Find a good "brain" sheet. May also be called a report sheet or go by other names. It's a GREAT way to keep patient information organized (and, in turn, keep you organized). There are multiple threads about it here. Multiple different types of sheets so you can definitely find one that makes the most sense to you.

I think seeing how the other nurses organize their day/patients/meds will help you figure out how to get the most out of your day. The rest of it will come with time :geek:

Good luck! Keep an open mind and know that you will feel LOST!! (but that's totally normal)

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I'm a brand new nurse to CV/PCU. I feel like I don't know anything. I just finished my second week on the floor and have been thinking about quiting. :(

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.
I'm a brand new nurse to CV/PCU. I feel like I don't know anything. I just finished my second week on the floor and have been thinking about quiting. :([/quote

I started on a tele/step down unit too and it was something else. Give it more time!! Ask your preceptor how you're doing. Ask questions! I had worked on a tech as one so got to take an arrhythmia and knew my strips before I became a RN which helped I think. If you enjoy cardiac keep with it!! It's a good middle ground to go med surg if you want or ICU down the road.

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

If you don't understand something, or you aren't sure how to proceed, or you think it's a stupid question, or you aren't sure about a drug and it's "everything", or you know you asked about a procedure before and you aren't quite sure you understood, or you're confused about what to say, or you get a funny feeling (6th sense) about an order you've been instructed to carry out, and always insist on seeing orders that another nurse has said they just got on one of your patients and you need to institute it right away, to sum it all up, if you ever feel uneasy about anything...ASK!

I wish I could mind feed all of you newbies all the critical things you will need to know to advance and survive this thing called nursing, but alas, you all must discover these things on your own :yes:

If your an RN out in the field working home care or hospice and not sure about how to proceed with something...CALL!

Always as much as possible do a head to toe on every patient you're assigned. This is to protect you...I do mean looking at it all, under the testes, under the breast, etc... If you are uncomfortable with a procedure...SAY SO!

Please when looking/preparing vials, multiple dose bottles, prefilled syringes, look closely at mg per ml...especially with narcs.

er; ah...don't quit, we all felt like that at one point or another. A famous saying "With great power comes great responsibility", if you know how much you can do as an RN and you understand your scope of practice, than you know how much power you really have.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Perinatal, Endoscopy, IVF Lab.

My Thoughts....

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/one-year-later-576777.html

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Always ask questions!! Never be afraid to do that

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Do: ask about anything everything.

Don't: have attitude when someone tries to help you.

Good luck, don't get burned out! 50:50 though lol

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

-Keep a journal. At the end of the day, write down all of the things that you questioned, situations you encountered and the things that other people said or did (good and bad!). I found a journal incredibly useful for me. Sadly, I didn't start one as a new Nurse, but it sure came in helpful later in my career.

-Try not to take another Nurses bad mood or bad attitude personally. Chances are they've been miserable, forever. Be polite, but being extra nice will not change their behavior and chances are it will only leave you feeling confused and frustrated.

-Take your breaks. It is so important!

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

Try to be comfortable in the learning process. Ask lots of questions and research info too. Know where to find the answers, know the policies and procedures. Keep a notebook and write things down so you avoid asking the same question over and over. If you have a gut feeling about something, don't ignore it, ask for guidance from nurses and physicians. Try not to take things too personally and always do your best. Also, slow down to do things right and to stay safe. If you are organized you should have enough time to get the most important things done.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Yes. A lot is two separate words. It is NEVER "alot". Good grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc will go a long way in your nursing career!

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Don't page doctors for stupid things....

K of 3.4 can usually wait till morning or rounds.....

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