Advice for new RN's

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O.K. I have a question for all and if it's been asked in the past or if I'm posting in the wrong forum I apologize. I'm new here, currently a student set to graduate in May. (hooray!)

IN any case, if you could give 1 piece of advice to new grads just starting out - what would it be? Has there been any one thing that someone passed along to you, that you keep in your heart every day that you feel keeps you motivated? Helps you do a better job, etc?

Looking forward to hearing from all. :)

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

"Know thy self" That was was the best bit of info I ever got!

Basically to me it is to know in your heart and spirit the REAL and RATIONAL reasons you became a nurse and use that when you are feeling down or overwhelmed. Also know your limitations...and stick by those and either challenge them safely till they are no longer an limitation or accept them fully and without shame and stay away from those types of patients (for me it is infants, no way...my heart can't take pain/suffering in infants and I would be of no use to them as a nurse because I would be too emotional...I don't hate this about me, it means I am human...I just know that working with infants is not a thing I should do!).

Stick with 'thy self', and never let people walk on you when you find they are and it is hurting you! That doesn't do a patient anygood if you are doing less than your best, or your best isn't atuned to a situation as much as you would feel comfortable about! Stick up for yourself at all times, but do it professionally!

Good luck to you and welcome to the next level of nursing...what I call "the real school"!

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watch your back and keep your mouth shut until you find out who the real backstabbers are on the unit/floor you work on, and if you think people are out to get you, you are probably right and should find a new place to work until you become a more seasoned nurse and can deal with all the petty crap out there.

sorry, having a bad day, but its true

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No one was born a nurse. It helped me to realize I still had a lot to learn (still do!) and my confidence would grow gradually. Be kind to yourself.

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Specializes in IMCU/Telemetry.

Remember, you are the boss. If you go into a room looking/acting weak, the family/pt might walk all over you (I don't say all because some of them have too much class). Be assertive but not forceful, be confident but not arrogent. As another poster said, "Know Thy Self." YOU ARE A NURSE.:)

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

Project confidence to your patients, even when you have your preceptor following you closely those first few weeks/months. Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. Watch and listen to what others do - to be an example of what to do -- or what not to do!

Even after your first few "aha" moments, you will still learn something new every single shift.

Last time I worked, I had a nursing student looking over my shoulder as I started a foley. I wonder if my cotton ball wiping technique was critiqued in post conference?? My coworkers and I had a good natured chuckle over that after she left for the day, remembering how surprised we were that nothing ever went as illustrated in "Nursing Fundamentals"!

Blee

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Get really organized. I went so far as to design my own sheet (some call it a brain) for report. It helped me to take report very efficiently and helped me not to overlook something that I needed to know if it wasn't offered in report. For example, if the nurse forgot to tell me a patient's allergy status, the blank spot on my sheet next to "allergies" was a flag that I needed to ask. I also flipped over my sheet after getting report and laid out my plan for the night with one section for each patient. I would mark when their next assessment was due, medications, etc. I would often highlight the "to dos" and mark through them as I completed them. This made it easy to organize my night in order to approach it more efficiently and I knew at a glance what was done and what still needed done. I then used this part of my sheet to give report in the morning.

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Specializes in MDS coordinator, hospice, ortho/ neuro.

Don't treat the LPNs like second class nurses. Don't treat your aides like servants. Don't ask anyone to do anything you wouldn't do yourself.

RN does not stand for Royal Nursitude.

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Remember that male nurses like cheeseburgers and coffee. Regularly providing us with cheeseburgers and coffee is not only the smart thing - it's the decent thing to do.

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Get into a new grad program right out of school...and thank me later.

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Specializes in IMCU/Telemetry.
Remember that male nurses like cheeseburgers and coffee. Regularly providing us with cheeseburgers and coffee is not only the smart thing - it's the decent thing to do.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: Gotta say, it sounds good to me:chuckle :chuckle :chuckle

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Don't be afraid to ask questions. And when your preceptor gives you any information - listen to it even if you know it/or have heard it before. If you may not agree with it or have a better way to do something, then discard their advice when you are off of orientation. Good luck!

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