Advice for newly licensed RN?

[CJAmbrose]

I have heard many nurses I've worked with call themselves "baby nurses" after they had just graduated from nursing school. My question is, is there anything you struggled with in particular as a new nurse? Or any piece of advice you would give to a nurse that is going to work on her own for the first time?

I'd love to hear about experiences as well!

[kakamegamama]

Struggles? Confidence in ability to safely perform skills. Advice? Treat your coworkers as you would like to be treated. Don't get caught up in unit gossip...it will return to you in a way that will be very unpleasant. Remember----every shift ends, the good, the bad, the ugly shifts, each and every one of them. Don't take your work home. When you walk out the door of the hospital, let yourself be off work. Treat your patients as the valuable people they are. (What's hard is when family members are a pain. Remember that they may very well be fearful for their loved one and are lashing out at a "safe" person--you. They may be very nice people who just can't handle the thought/stress of losing a loved one. Fear causes people to say and do some unkind things sometimes.) Take care of yourself. Give yourself time to adjust to the "real world" of nursing. Go easy on yourself if you goof up. If you didn't do your best, tomorrow is another day and you can improve. Be on your guard for your license--don't get sloppy/lazy/do things the way everyone else does, but always follow the practice standards of care. If you should ever be caught up in malpractice, that will be to your benefit.

I could go on and on, but you might quit reading. The best to you in this most wonderful, frustrating, tiring, and fulfilling profession.

[CJAmbrose]

Thank you so much for your response, I truly appreciate it! You gave some great advice - I'm both nervous and excited for what the future holds.