Advice to the new grad

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

[COLOR=#000000]Advice to the newly graduated nurse[/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]I see so many posts from new grads who ask for advice fromeverything on choosing a specialty, Bullying and evil mean preceptors so I satdown to give some basic advice to being a successful new grad.[/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]1. It's ok if you don't know what nursing specialtyyou want.[/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]Many will tell you that you should start inMed/Surge and stay there for 1 to 2 years. Med/Surge is a great place to cutyour teeth. You learn a whole lot and refine assessment and people skills.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=#000000]However, if you have a strong interest in aparticular specialty and get a chance to try it, go for it. But be willing to stick there for at least ayear. It takes that long just to know you're good at it. If you decide to leaveyou will still have that coveted 1^st year of experience.[/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]2. Should I do a New Grad residency?[/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]If you get a chance to do a residency and agood teaching hospital yes go for it.[/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]3. Keep your future plans to yourself. [/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]If you have nothing but distain for bedsidenursing and plan to get you NP or DNP as soon as possible. Be careful to stayhumble with your new peers. Many of us are working on advanced degrees and somehave no desire to. Respect theexperience of those who are teaching and mentoring you. Move on when you areready to pursue the next step of your career. [/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]4. Show respect and listen to your preceptor.[/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]Some of us have years of experience to passon to the young nurse who wants to learn.[/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]5. Own yourmistakes. The News Flash here is that you will not be the first nurse (New orOld) who is going to make mistakes. As long as your mistake doesn't kill someonetake it as a learning experience. Own it and don't make excuses. Learn whathapped and why, make necessary corrections to your practice and move on. [/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]6. Your preceptor is not your friend!

He/She has ajob to do which is to teach you safe practice and the facilities expectationsof its nurses. They may be friendly, warm and nice or aloof, cold and downrightmean. Don't be so quick to think NETY[/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]7. Learn that just because someone says something thatbothers you does not mean you have been bullied.

Listen to what's being saidand if any part is true own it. Writing someone up and running to HR every timesomeone sneezes in your direction willnot help your career [/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]8. Don't participate in hospital gossip!

If theyare spreading rumors about others they will likely spread them about you.[/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]9. Don't try to reinvent the wheel.

We know youjust graduated and have all the latest and greatest techniques and theories toshare but nothing will annoy your preceptor more than hearing "That's not theway I learned it in school!"[/COLOR]

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[COLOR=#000000]10. Smile!

Remember to go home hug your family orpets and sleep well at night. Find somebalance. Nursing, for all the good things it is, is till just a job. It paysyour rent, put's food on the table and provides for your family, but at the endof the day you are responsible for your own happiness.[/COLOR]

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[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

Mods please delete above I messed up