Preparing for First RN Job

[aubsn]

Hey everyone,

New RN here who could use some advice on preparing for my first job! I graduated 2 months ago and passed my NCLEX last month. Now I have about a month and a half before I start my first job as a real live nurse! Since passing my NCLEX last month, I've not really done much studying afterwards. I've mainly been catching up on sleep, watching Netflix/Hulu, and hanging out with friends for my hometown before I move away for at least 2 years for my job, which is in a New Grad Residency Program.

I feel eel like I should be doing something to prepare myself for my first job. I've bought some new scrubs that I cannot wait to wear, but I feel like I'm missing something. Should I be doing anything else to prepare for the job? Maybe I'm just still too used to the constant studying of nursing school.....

any advice is welcome! :)

[RNperdiem, RN]

If this will be your first full time job as an adult, you can prepare for the logistics.

What will you eat? Pack lunch, slow-cooker dinner? Eat out? Plan simple but energizing and nutritious breakfasts?

How will you get to work? If you drive, now would be a good time to get new windshield wipers, get your car washed and cleaned, and serviced if needed. Plan your route to work and then plan a backup route or two. Figure out how long it takes to get to work and plan your timing for getting to work. I work on a college campus where the walk from distant lots is figured into the timing of getting to work on time.

Do you have good shoes for work? Do you need to break them in?

Are you physically fit? If foregoing some netflix for a daily walk can be done, your body will thank you. Nursing can be a physical job and a good level of overall fitness is a bonus.

If you are going to move for the new job, do you need to start packing/ figure out what you don't have/learn your way around a new city? Make some plans to stay in touch with your old friends, look around and see what social opportunities there are in your town.