any and all Advice Welcome!

[JoDanielle]

In just a short week and a half I will be graduating with my RN degree. Soon after graduation I will take my state boards and hopefully pass and then be on my way to my first job as an RN. I would like to reach out to all you awesome nurses out there and ask what advice you have to offer to a new grad RN? What are some things that you wish you would have known your first year of nursing? Or What does being a nurse mean to you, what's your outlook on it, what has kept you going through all your years?

[Extra Pickles]

Be OPEN to constructive criticism, it is what you need to hear in order to become a good nurse. Be aware of non-constructive criticism but don't let it take over your whole being. Too many new grads are so sensitive to any form of criticism that what is designed to help them goes unheeded and what is designed to hurt them becomes the sole focus of their lives. Don't dwell.

If someone has a different way of getting something done than you do, don't take the stance that since it wasn't taught that way in your school it is incorrect. There can be many ways to get something done safely and correctly, you don't know about them all. Be willing to learn. Cutting out time and steps does NOT automatically translate into poor or unsafe patient care. You don't know yet how to do this effectively, so don't assume no one else does either. Be open to learning new ways.

If someone is taking the time to teach you something, please listen. Disregarding information because you feel you don't need to know that RIGHT NOW is not in your best interest.

You will be overwhelmed, it is expected, it WILL happen, and we all know this. Sometimes it will be very evident and people will offer to help. Take them up on that. Sometimes it is NOT evident, no one will be offering to help, but that does not mean they don't care to, it means they can't read your mind. ASK FOR HELP when you need it. Don't assume everyone is watching you flounder and is mean. They are busy doing their own thing (or not) and YOU need to speak up at those times.

If you are floundering and no one WANTS to help you, consider the possible reasons. Are you unhelpful toward others? Have they asked you if you needed help and you said "it's ok, I got it" when you really don't? Have you complained about how someone did something for you when they did help (see comment about multiple ways of getting something done)?

If you want people to be friendly, BE friendly. Don't be insulted if they aren't outwardly warm and fuzzy, some people need time to warm up to new people. This might be your first nursing job, but the rest of the people on the unit might have seen a dozen new nurses come and go in the last couple of months. You may need to stick around awhile before they accept you're really there :)

Arrive a bit early, take report well. Question but don't interrogate. End of your shift wrap up what needs to be wrapped up. While nursing is a 24-hour gig, don't leave so much for the next shift that they are tempted to do the same to you. No one likes being dumped on, there's enough work for everyone!

Before you leave, make sure you've charted, signed off, left no room for questions that might require a phone call to you later. No one's got time for that.

Be conscientious, be kind, be careful. And good luck to you in your first job!! :)