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Hello. Im working on my associates RN degree. We are assigned a networking assignment that is to join a board for professional nursing and ask two questions and get feed back from y'all. So here goes

1) what advice to u have for new grads heading into there first nursing job?

2) How do you feel about tattooed nurses?

Your your feed back would be greatly appreciated

thanks

Brian

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Specializes in Emergency.

1. You may have just finished college and be full of theoretical knowledge but you still have to learn how to do your job. Be open to all the learning experiences you can access.

2. I'm a tattooed nurse and I feel good about myself.....

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Welcome to AN.com, Brian.

1) what advice to u have for new grads heading into there first nursing job?

Be there first and foremost for the patient and be open to learning perspectives on nursing that were never taught in the nursing program.

2) How do you feel about tattooed nurses?

Like any other aspect of an individual's person life, such as political, religious, or sexual preference, tattoos need to be kept under wraps. As nurses, our primary goal is to serve the patient and personal expressions need to not be at the forefront.

You're welcome and good luck on your assignment!

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

1) be flexible, loose emotional reaction to not being told what you wanted to hear...... I'm sorry but current nursing education programs do not prepare you to be safe and competent nurse out of the door..... You are a liability that we experienced nurses want to help develope..... But we also have our clinical and personal responsibilities to our patients..... If we seem to be a bit "short" in answere, be patient.....we really do want you to succeed....

the he majority of tattoos should be out of site......

im afraid it might reflect on my hiring choices..... At least in the beginning..... That is just the truth....DaveyDo said it best

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1.) Be open to every new experience on the floor. What may seem like a "good experience" to you as a student, may not be the most important thing to you as a nurse. Accept that nursing school/clinical does NOT prepare you for life as a nurse. You will be overwhelmed, you will question your decision to be a nurse, you may even cry after a shift or two, but it gets better! Ask questions, talk to other nurses and staff members, when, not if, when you receive some negative feedback-examine it with an open mind because while some people just suck, most people around you want you to succeed.

2.) Tattoos have no effect whatsoever on a person's ability to do their job and do it well. You'll get a feel for the culture of you workplace, so start with the tattoo covered and go from there. On a tattoo note: One of the most buttoned-up, formal, and well respected physicians that I've ever met, got thrown up on by a patient on a night shift- he took off his shirt in the room and was tattooed from neck to waist and had 2 full sleeves and an eagle across his back. you just never know...

Good luck in your future career!

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Lots of good answers! I'll go from another angle.

1) what advice to u have for new grads heading into there first nursing job?

First and foremost I'd expect a new grad to be able to write well in the charts and write professionally and legibly anywhere you might expect an attorney to be looking. And that would include losing "text talk", don't write "u" when you mean "you". Spell the correct version of words, if you mean "their" do not type "there". It looks bad in court, it looks bad in files. You want your writing to reflect well on your education, not point out that you need some.

2) How do you feel about tattooed nurses?

I feel that as long as I am not offended by what I see, as long as what I see isn't something a reasonable person should not be displaying, then I'm ok with them. Sometimes I do see tattoos that scream 'MISTAKE!!!' and I bet the people wearing them feel that way too. I feel that nurses should project a professional image and to that end there are some tattoos that are in good taste and can bear scrutiny and others that should be covered up as the shameful offenses that they are. My opinion is that a little tattoo of a rose on a wrist doesn't bother me. Words scrolling up someone's neck from their clavicle to their jaw offends me.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

1) what advice to u have for new grads heading into there first nursing job?

Know how to look up information yourself- utilize all of your resources before just asking your preceptor. Saying "I looked up the blood administration protocol, but need clarification on XYZ" is going to go over a lot better than "How do we hang blood?". Look professional- and that's going to include proper spelling and grammar. I can't tell you how many times I've cringed over misspellings and poor grammar in charting. How is that going to look if, God forbid, it's ever called into evidence in a trial? (Their, not there in this question- you need the possessive form.)

2) How do you feel about tattooed nurses?

I don't care about tattoos unless they are of questionable appropriateness- expletives, nudity, etc. What I care about is if my coworker is competent and a good team player.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency.

1) what advice to u have for new grads heading into there first nursing job?

Acknowledge that even if you were the top student in your nursing school class and grasped all of the material with no issue, you still don't know what you don't know. Even if you have done a skill a million times, keep your mind open to advice from seasoned nurses, they may tell you a way that makes it easier. Recognize that you'll likely meet personalities that you just don't mesh with and that is okay. Just because you don't get along with them on a personal level doesn't mean they "eat their young" or any of the cliches that like to go around. Nursing school and the real world of nursing are two completely different beasts and it takes a bit to get your footing. Find a person on your unit that you can look up to and ask questions, even if it's not your preceptor, it can be invaluable. You are going to have great days where you feel like you are the best nurse in the world and you'll also have days where you feel like you accomplished nothing and are the worst nurse. It's normal, and it's okay. Even almost two years into my career I still have days where I feel like an idiot and that I should have done something different. You WILL make mistakes. We all do. Own them, and learn from them.

2) How do you feel about tattooed nurses?

Same as I feel about non-tattooed nurses. As long as they do their job, we will get along just fine. :)

Good luck to you!

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Apologies about my grammer.

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Thank you

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Specializes in ICU.

1) Be open to new experiences. Be willing to admit that you need help from time to time. Don't be a hero- be a team player. Always seek to grow and continue to learn within your practice.

2) Tattoos are fine, but many hospitals will ask you to keep them covered. I have three, only one of which is visible (on my wrist). I have to wear a wide band watch on that wrist because it doesn't fly with my hospital. Others who have arm tattoos, etc have to wear long sleeves under their scrubs. Then again though, I do work for a religious-based, more conservative hospital. Other hospitals, no problem.

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