First Year of Nursing

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Nursing. A challenging profession in the first year and every year after that first year. What makes the challenge different in the following years after the first is if you do this:

Reflect: Never beat yourself up after a shift. If you do the best you can with the experience and knowledge you have, you did a great job. Think about and learn your resources to provide best care to patients. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Collaborate with the healthcare team. Be assertive, but always kind. If you go on a quest to find the above, every challenge after that first year is empowering and fosters the ability to provide best care to patients, their families and our profession.

Never follow the crowd: Keep true to your heart and soul. Do what is right and advocate for patients in a way you would want done for those you love in your life. Don't be afraid to be exactly who you are. Stand by your values even if that means standing alone. Stand up for yourself. Your patients. Their families. Our profession. Realize the benefit of this might not be seen in job security or a "peaceful" work environment. But, you will wake up every morning and go to bed every night being able to look at yourself in the mirror.

Build your philosophy on what nursing means to you: Take from your mentors those ideas and passions that resonate with you. Figure out what makes you tick and why you chose this profession. What can you control within your practice? What do you have to let go because you can not control it within our profession? Find those in your workplace with similar philosophies. They are your sounding board. They will help you and have your back. They will reassure you that your philosophy is right on track and they get it and agree with it.

Self-care: Take care of yourself. Sometimes we go beyond what we need to because we look at another human being and feel extreme emotions. We will do anything to provide comfort, care and peace. This may be staying later to spend time with a patient or visiting a patient who has been transferred to another unit after our shift. This is okay because you are soothing your soul while also providing comfort to a patient or family. But, realize, we can not do this for every patient and family. Know when you need to provide comfort, care and peace to your own soul. Don't feel guilty. To care for others, we need to care for ourselves.

Know when to leave: If you are within an organization and unit where you can not find one person you connect with... find a new job and leave the organization. It is not you. It is the organization. Do not stay in an environment where your heart, soul and philosophy is compromised to be the nurse you want to be within our profession. It is scary. It makes us second-guess ourselves. It brings up all sorts of emotions. But, reflect on the experience, be proud you haven't followed the crowd, stand by your philosophy and care for yourself.

Your future is bright as a nurse. It is a profession for those whom love a good challenge. It is a profession for those whom care deeply about others. It is a profession for those who want to impact the world in a positive way. Go on and choose to make a positive difference in the lives of patients, families and communities. Never doubt your abilities. Remember, sometimes our impact is moment to moment.

This profession gives the ability to see the world in a multi-dimensional way. It changes our lives in the most beautiful way. Be proud to be a nurse and the person you are in this world.