Advice for a new nurse, please

RunBabyRN · May 13, 2014

Congratulations! I just graduated this past weekend myself! I've been in health care for awhile, so I'll throw in my own answer here. I think the most valuable thing I've learned that nursing school can't really teach is to not judge someone for their path. We see IV drug users who are often self-medicating, people who raise their kids differently than we would, etc, and in general, people are just doing the best they can. There's usually a story that we can never understand that takes people to place they are when they fall into our hands. Judgment doesn't help anyone involved. Patients are a lot more receptive to you when they don't feel like they're being judged, especially when they often DO feel that way.

Baubo516, RN · May 13, 2014

I am still a student, but I work as a CNA at a hospital with many nurses, and I have my LPN license... (I will be doing some LPN work this summer!)

One of the things they don't teach you in school is that you really need to know how to change a brief, wipe a butt, and reposition a patient when you are a nurse. In clinicals we generally have only one patient - as a nurse, you will be assigned 4-6 depending on your unit and your shift. There will be CNAs to help you, but please don't be one of those nurses that says, "That is aide work." All of the patient care is ultimately your responsibility, and you designate things to aides so that you will have time to do the things only a nurse can do. Just know that a nurse should never be "above" taking someone to the bathroom or for a walk!

I work with many wonderful nurses who understand this, and as an aide I appreciate that they are willing to help when all of their license requiring activities are caught up. I also work with a few who do not want to answer any lights, and let me tell you, nurses and aides alike don't appreciate that attitude!

Good luck as you graduate!!! Enjoy your accomplishment!

cassie77775 · May 13, 2014

Time management was the one essential thing I learned. I specialized right after I graduated to mother baby and the majority of my learning came from on the job.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · May 13, 2014

I will second time management. As a student I only had 1, maybe two patients at a time. Now I juggle 5,6,7 patients and I have to say I've gotten quite good at it after some time. Good brain sheet to organize information is important, clustering care, limiting interruptions, making big trips to clean supply to get an extra bag of IV fluids for each patient at one time instead of individually, mastering 2-5minute assessment, also chart as you go in real time, and utilize your resources/delegate- tech, charge RN and even manager. If it works for me, it will work for you. Time management is something I struggle with and something I can say I've now mastered.

LisaJensenLawrence · May 15, 2014

Thank you for all your input! I really value it and I look forward to trying it out.

krisiepoo · May 16, 2014

take it one day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time and one patient at a time... get a general idea of everything that needs to be done and then start at the beginning. You can't do everything all at once. some days I just feel like I'm just plugging along, but sometimes that is all you can do

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 17, 2014

I didn't learn time management in nursing school -- it wasn't even on the horizon. Yet if you learn that one early, it sets you up to able to afford the time to learn so much more!