New grad RN challenges

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 4, 2017

Nursing school doesn't do an adequate job of preparing students for professional workplace relationships.

When you are new, you will make mistakes; perhaps even a lot of mistakes. That means that someone is going to have to give you negative feedback about the mistakes you've made and perhaps teach you to avoid making that same mistake next time. The best skill you can exhibit as a new grad is the skill of taking negative feedback in a professional manner and using it to improve your practice. Don't be the new grad that no one wants to approach -- be the new grad who seeks out feedback -- positive and negative, and acts upon it. Be the new grad who realizes that no one WANTS to give negative feedback and very few are good at it, even if their intentions are to help you to become a fabulous nurse. Don't make it harder on someone giving you feedback. Thank them courteously for letting you know and vow to do better. Then do better.

The forums here would have you believe that bullies run rampant and nursing is infested with them. That is just not the case. I've found that those who are most obsessed with finding bullies in their new job will find some, whether or not any bullying actually took place. Realize that an interaction that makes you uncomfortable or hurts your feelings does not constitute bullying. Sometimes it's just someone delivering well-deserved feedback in a manner you find awkward, off-putting or uncomfortable. Accept it gracefully and move on.

Deal with your colleagues as the professionals they are and the professional you are. One of the biggest reasons new nurses lose their jobs or hate their jobs is that they don't fit in at their workplace. If your colleagues don't LIKE you, they won't approach you with feedback which allows you to change your bad habits. They won't look out for you. Little mistakes have big consequences. If they do like you, you can make an enormous error and still keep your job and your license -- and even your dignity. All you have to do is be friendly, approachable and don't look for bullies or things for which to "report" people.

LovingLife123 · Apr 4, 2017

Just realize that while yes you will have graduated nursing school and passed NCLEX, you know nothing yet. And that's ok, you will get there in time. It's overwhelming and scary, but just push through each shift and at some point, it will get easier. I didn't start feeling ok about going to work and feeling confident that I would be able to keep my patients alive until about a year in.

Im still constantly learning even a couple years in.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Apr 4, 2017

Realize that it takes 18 months-2 yrs to feel comfortable and competent.

KatheClaire, ASN, BSN · Apr 4, 2017

Be patient with yourself, I have been working as an RN for only six months now, and although I am not completely competent for all my assignments I do feel a big change in my practice. Nursing school does not prepare you for real life on the floor. What I would recommend is so try and soak in everything nursing and make sure to remember your new role...and not be afraid to delegate to your CT. Show your preceptor how eager you are to learn, introduce yourself to everyone on the floor, and if you see something interesting or another nurse is doing a skill you have never done before..ask if you can help! Its going to be a hard change and really scary, but don't ever be afraid to ask for help-especially from your charge nurse when you are on your own because patient safety is more important than pride. Good luck, and enjoy the journey =]

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 5, 2017

Realize that it takes 18 months-2 yrs to feel comfortable and competent.

Realize that no matter how comfortable and confident you are, it takes approximately two years to BE competent.

jbRN27 · Apr 8, 2017

This is GREAT advice! I am extremely lucky in that I already work at the hospital as a CNA and therefore I know the staff well and they are all already cheering me on. I think that this will be a huge benefit to me because I am already comfortable with them and I will be more likely to feel comfortable asking for help. They all remember being new grads, and they are all excited to help me grow. I feel very fortunate to be in this situation!

Thank you for your advice!!

pixierose, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2017

I feel that, as a new grad, I know more than I thought I would but certainly less than a truly competent nurse does.

I have the book smarts, but not the know-how. That I'm learning day-by-day by the awesome nurses that I'm working with.

Take feedback gracefully, professionally and certainly not personally. And then implement it. I think every day brings a new challenge, and a lot of the feedback is really good. But a lot is constructive and it can be daunting. I've gone to bed almost every night by 8:30 because of the fatigue of it all. It's stressful! But well worth it, because I love my unit and the people on it.

One of the biggest things though is: I get to go home. My patients do not (at least when I'm leaving). Does not matter how many times I'm ******* at, yelled at, spit/kicked/scratched/hit at (psych unit) ... I get to go home. They stay another day. Puts it into perspective for me.