advice for newbies...!

TazziRN, RN · Sep 6, 2006

Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions and pay attention! When you graduate and take your boards you have all the book learning you need to get started, but there is still a lot to learn in the "real world."

Happy-ER-RN, RN · Sep 6, 2006

alright all you long time nurses. what advice can you give us nursing students. i read a lot of posts that talk about what a hard time the new nurses are having getting adjusted. is there something that you wish you paid more attention to in school, something you wish you did differently...? Any advice!

Unfortunately, I think besides the basics--(learn all you can) there is not much you can do to avoid the new nurse struggle. It is going to be hard at first, that's just the way it is. Try to think of it like child labor, you know it is going to hurt, but it will end, and you will have something to show for it. This might not be a good analogy, because I have never given birth! My greatest advice to you would be to try to relax and just go with the flow, you don't have to know everything right at first, it's a learning process, and it is miserable. I was worked hard in RN school and graduated with a 4.0 and still my first 3 months in the ED were there worst months of my entire life, I have never experienced so much stress. But I did survive and you will too.

suzy253, RN · Sep 6, 2006

I'm a new grad nurse as well. Adjusting to the new nurse syndrome can be difficult at times....there are good days and not-so-good days. Ask questions and soak up everything there is to learn. But once you become a new nurse on the floor, the learning really starts and never stops.

Markthemalenurse · Sep 6, 2006

Also don't take it to heart when a more experienced nurse seems short and gruff with you. They maybe very busy and don't have the time right then and there to answer questions. Wait awhile and ask again.

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 6, 2006

Also don't take it to heart when a more experienced nurse seems short and gruff with you. They maybe very busy and don't have the time right then and there to answer questions. Wait awhile and ask again.

I'll add this to Mark's comments. Timing is everything! When you approach someone who's busy, even charting, try waiting there without saying anything before asking your question (always assuming it isn't an emergency). Wait for them to acknowledge you first. Sometimes having your train of thought interrupted just drives you crazy. Or it does me, at least. I can completely forget what I was writing or going to write or going to do if I'm interrupted. Try to learn to recognize when someone is super-stressed and don't ask any more than you have to.

Good luck!

nuangel1, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2006

coming in prepared and willing to learn ,ask questions but also understand people get stressed and sometimes you will get the brunt usually unintentially and not personal.but if you feel you are not getting what you need to work and or have issues with one person try speaking with them privately if that doesn't work speak confidentially with your boss .