Encouraging words to New Grads and Newer Nurses

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

i am going to make this quick and to the point because i have to go to work again!!! i had my baptism in fire last night. i did not go home crying, no one died under my care (though i think my transported patient is going to die if he has not already done so), and i managed to put up with alllllllll of the trash talking from the hateful more experienced nurses and the jealous less experienced nurses! i have been a nurse for a year now... ed going on 6 months... and i survived the most vicious night of my life not to mention i am going back for more tonight!

i just wanted to say to all the newer nurses plus the new grads (brand spanking new) you can do it too!!! no one becomes a strong nurse without being baptized in fire (i was told this by the supportive experienced nurses)!! also you do not become a strong nurse if you do not get up the next shift and return again! so good luck to all!!! i will try to make a better post to detail my experience later... for now i just wanted to send out encouraging words! :D

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Specializes in Adolescent & Adult Psychiatry.

Thank you for the support and kind words! However, I refuse to get baptized by fire and if anyone has an issue with that then it's time for me to move on! It's good that you found supportive nurses too, they do basically come in handy all the time.

Thanks again and hopefully, your night won't be too vicious!

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Baptized in fire... what a true yet wonderful choice of words!

No one became a great nurse floating on clouds. It's hard to remember that sometimes, but we must keep reminding each other of it!

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Thank you for the words but I'm unclear what "Baptism by fire" means? Do you mean a reall rough night with patients or a bad night with co-workers becase I don't care how long you've been a nurse, I refuse to put up with disrespect!!!!!

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.

I would have to think the OP means the worse night of her career as a nurse and probably was getting trashed from all ends. It can be different for every body.

I've had some pretty rough experiences that have given me

'tough skin' although I've never heard the term "baptism by fire."

You all are going to experience disrespect, but you can't walk off the job just because some egotistical nurse if giving you a hard time..........you just have to stand your ground and show you won't put up with it. Sometimes it takes a few times before your peers start treating you with respect.

It just baffles me the way we have to put up with this egotism, our jobs are stressful enough without having to put up with these witches.

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Specializes in Hemodialysis.

whoah!!! very well said fellow nurses......thank you for encouragement! it will surely helps us a lot,though i don't work as a nurse right now but i'm pretty sure that the same thing might happen to me in the future,...just remeber guys...we can never be a best warrior if we never experience to get wounded. So stick to the fight, at the end of the day it's between you and the patient who's more important.....hope to get more encouragement from the same usernames above SOON!!:):):)

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baptism by fire will make one a strong nurse in many ways. those who cant stand the heat will surely get out the kitchen

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Specializes in Orthopedic, Pain Management, Psych, Family.

NurseMaedz05 I love the way you put that into words "We can never be a best warrior if we never experience to get wounded" I LOVE that! however I feel that I've been getting more than my share of wounds lately. I am a new nurse, got my licensure in July 2009. Seems that those who hire new nurses think they'll do the grunt work, other nurses work, and the housekeepers work and in the end say "thank you" to the boss. I've learned to bite my tongue, smile when I feel more like screaming, and deal with hostile pts and vile tongued families. Nursing is not for the faint of heart or for those who can't bite their tongues (I learned that the hard way) Also I would love to know why LTC units have a shortage of nurses, floor nurses are too overwhelmed, which they are. But the facility does not want to hire anyone else to help deal with the overwhelming paperwork and other tasks that need to be done?

Thank you for your encouraging words, they're read at a time of need by myself. I only wish nurses could band together more instead of becoming negative toward one another.

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Specializes in ED.

and I managed to put up with ALLLLLLLLL of the trash talking from the hateful more experienced nurses and the jealous less experienced nurses! I have been a nurse for a year now... ED going on 6 months... and I survived the most vicious night of my life not to mention I am going back for more tonight

Why the jealousy in nursing, really hate this aspect of nursing, I really hate the fact that backstabbing rules on our unit.........Im a realist..I hate phony, nosy nurses, as a new nurse I really hate to even listen to the mess because I know that that same person can talk about me..........I love nursing, the job itself but what stresses me the most are the experienced miserable nurses and the nurses who try to make u feel bad because they had negative experiences...........but Ill go back again tomorrow.......but Im becoming that nurse that snap at the B.S and unfortunately the phonies see that as antisocial behavior........

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

Thanks for the encouraging post.

Here's the other side....

I just got off a rotation in which all of my patients were kind, friendly, and grateful. The workload was manageable - only 30 minutes of OT - and on which I received some very positive feedback from three experienced nurses whom I admire, including my charge nurse.

Even had a doc say, "thank you" when I called him about a status change.

Some shifts or rotations can sure make up for a lot of the bad ones.

Good vibes to all you other newbie nurses trying make your way in this crazy profession of ours.

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Specializes in Hemodialysis.
NurseMaedz05 I love the way you put that into words "We can never be a best warrior if we never experience to get wounded" I LOVE that! however I feel that I've been getting more than my share of wounds lately. I am a new nurse, got my licensure in July 2009. Seems that those who hire new nurses think they'll do the grunt work, other nurses work, and the housekeepers work and in the end say "thank you" to the boss. I've learned to bite my tongue, smile when I feel more like screaming, and deal with hostile pts and vile tongued families. Nursing is not for the faint of heart or for those who can't bite their tongues (I learned that the hard way) Also I would love to know why LTC units have a shortage of nurses, floor nurses are too overwhelmed, which they are. But the facility does not want to hire anyone else to help deal with the overwhelming paperwork and other tasks that need to be done?

Thank you for your encouraging words, they're read at a time of need by myself. I only wish nurses could band together more instead of becoming negative toward one another.

@mysticalmoonray:

I'm glad you like it! anyway,i read your concerns and what i can say is: Ok let's just put it this way..always think of this (something to look forward to)...every nurse supervisors/managers in your units have once experience what you're experiencing right now...and they were able to surpass it for them to become what they are today. So same thing with you... What you're going through is also part of your training to be a successful nurse someday. The more challenges you face, the better and effective nurse you become... I envy you because you're already practicing your degree, 'coz in my case yeah I'm a nurse in title but am working as an aupair ( I don't feel sorry for myself though) but in my case i just take it as a stepping stone for a better future someday that I will use this to find nursing job here in california... And I'm also looking forward to face all the hardships of being a new nurse all I need is a matter of chance. :)

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