Advice for a new grad...

Nurses New Nurse

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Hey all! I'm graduating in December and was wondering if you have any advice for a new grad? Any pearls of wisdom that you wished someone would have shared with you? Thanks a lot!

~Alicia SN...soon to be RN!

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Specializes in PACU.

1. go to a hospital that has a new grad program

2. do not work agency or travel for 1 year

3. do not job hop... the names change but most of what you will be going throough remains the same

4. find a mentor where you work, even if it is a housekeeper, not on your unit preferably. Some hospitals have a big sister program

5. Invest in a new nurse book from Barnes and Noble or Amazon I like Your Career in Nursing, Vallano but your 1st year as a nurse is good as is The everything nurse book ( I use this in my new grad program

6. Keep a journal or a blog, you will laugh later even though you may be crying now

7. Wear comfortable shoes

8. Ask tons of questions

9. Do not do anything without your preceptor at your side.

10. Take time for yourself and do not work any extra for at least a year. You are still in learning mode no matter how excited you are.

I run a new grad program for a 400 bed hspital so feel free to ask questions or e mail me.

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Thank you so much for responding! I'll definitely take your 'pearls' back to California in December!

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Specializes in Palliative Care, NICU/NNP.

I like to keep a small notebook in my pocket so I can make notes about anything I might forget. Remember to tighten those abds when you lift a patient. Hospitals don't like us using the word lift anymore. They like transfer. Most moves can wait for help to arrive. If you feel a certain transfer is unsafe, talk to PT and they can help. Don't beat yourself up if you feel uneasy, lack confidence or are just plain scared. These are normal feelings for those in a new job. You and everyone else will make mistakes...it's a given. Forgive yourself and I bet you'll never do it again. Introduce yourself to staff if you don't know them, and even docs. Best in your new career.

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Specializes in Psych.

Take NCLEX asap. I waited almost 10 months before taking it and am kicking myself now. Should have had it over and done with by now.

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1. go to a hospital that has a new grad program

2. do not work agency or travel for 1 year

3. do not job hop... the names change but most of what you will be going throough remains the same

4. find a mentor where you work, even if it is a housekeeper, not on your unit preferably. Some hospitals have a big sister program

5. Invest in a new nurse book from Barnes and Noble or Amazon I like Your Career in Nursing, Vallano but your 1st year as a nurse is good as is The everything nurse book ( I use this in my new grad program

6. Keep a journal or a blog, you will laugh later even though you may be crying now

7. Wear comfortable shoes

8. Ask tons of questions

9. Do not do anything without your preceptor at your side.

10. Take time for yourself and do not work any extra for at least a year. You are still in learning mode no matter how excited you are.

I run a new grad program for a 400 bed hspital so feel free to ask questions or e mail me.

Advise #2 "do not work agency or travel for 1 year" -why? -because i can not find a job i was thinking about going to an agency in nyc

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Specializes in Neuro.
Advise #2 "do not work agency or travel for 1 year" -why? -because i can not find a job i was thinking about going to an agency in nyc

I would say (from a new grad perspective) that your first year should be all about figuring out how to be a real nurse, and some kind of stability in your unit, patient load, and hospital policies is very helpful because you don't have to think as much about those things and can focus on your job.

If you travel or work agency, you are switching between many hospitals, units, policies and procedures, staff, management, patient populations, patient loads, etc. etc. etc. It would be immensely more stressful, I would think, to not have any stability at work.

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Specializes in ICU, ED.
1. go to a hospital that has a new grad program

2. do not work agency or travel for 1 year

3. do not job hop... the names change but most of what you will be going throough remains the same

4. find a mentor where you work, even if it is a housekeeper, not on your unit preferably. Some hospitals have a big sister program

5. Invest in a new nurse book from Barnes and Noble or Amazon I like Your Career in Nursing, Vallano but your 1st year as a nurse is good as is The everything nurse book ( I use this in my new grad program

6. Keep a journal or a blog, you will laugh later even though you may be crying now

7. Wear comfortable shoes

8. Ask tons of questions

9. Do not do anything without your preceptor at your side.

10. Take time for yourself and do not work any extra for at least a year. You are still in learning mode no matter how excited you are.

I run a new grad program for a 400 bed hspital so feel free to ask questions or e mail me.

Squirt6907....Do you know anything about the Nurse Residency programs @ Vanderbilt TN, Duke or WakeMed in NC?

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