5 Things I Wish I Knew as a New Graduate Nurse

NurseHeart&Soul, MSN

Tassels and pinnings, HESI exams, NCLEX prep, and ultimately the news that you passed your boards. You now hold in your hand a hard earned diploma and a nursing license. For those of you not quite there yet, imagine what this will feel like. The dream of becoming a registered nurse finally fulfilled. Of course, the next part of the journey is just beginning. Unless you are one of those rare nurse graduates who has already sealed the deal on a place of employment, you're probably wondering where your nursing journey will ultimately take you. Keep reading for a few tips to consider while looking for and once landing that first nursing job!

1) Looking for Your First Job?

Don't become so focused on the unit where you think you want to work that you fail to examine other opportunities. Be open minded.

Maybe your desire is to work in the intensive care unit (ICU). But what if the hospital where you want to work has an okay ICU orientation while the telemetry floor has an amazing reputation for supporting new graduate nurses through mentoring and a world class orientation?

Consider that maybe the culture of the unit should trump all when looking for a new job. Possibly you gain the foundation you need and the RN wings to fly in this type of environment and then later move on.

2) Purchase High Quality Shoes and Compression Stockings

If you are fortunate to have two working feet, take care of them. Your feet will take you miles to learn, see, do. They are a valuable commodity for your career so give them the support and comfort they need.

In addition, wearing compression stockings from early in your career will prevent the later in life bumpy looking blue train tracks from running up your legs...otherwise known as varicose veins.

3) Journal from Day One of Your Career

You will think you'll remember details of unusual cases but over time the specifics fade, and that once impactful case turns to a blur in your memory. The value comes in reflecting on your actions, what you did well, what you wish you had done another way, how you felt, who supported you, and lessons learned of how to approach things differently the next time you find yourself in a similar circumstance.

I still have my journal from my first year as a nurse. Looking back 20+ years later, the journal is a wonderful resource to stay in touch with the challenges of that first year and how to be a more supportive nurse, mentor, and educator to those nurses just beginning the journey.

4) Create a Book of Brains

As a new orientee and first year nurse, the amount of new information can be overwhelming. So many policies to attempt to retain, new medications to become familiar with, and infrequent procedures that you'll want to remember at a moment's notice.

Your "Book of Brains" should be small and compact. Organize it into sections (procedures, medications, pediatrics etc...), and write quick notes about that essential need-to-know material. Over the years, the "Book of Brains" becomes a great resource to refer to for information regarding those low-frequency high-risk presentations that you need in a crisis.

Carrying the book in a scrub or pants pocket puts the needed information right at your fingertips and will develop you into a future resourceful "go-to" person in the years ahead. If I were paid for every time in my career someone asked me for my quick reference material, I'd be independently wealthy by now!

5) Find a Nursing Confidant You Trust

Every new nurse (or nurse for that matter) will benefit from having a colleague they trust wholeheartedly with whom they can share tears, laughter, and frustrations. Maybe this is a friend from nursing school, a preceptor on the floor, or another newly hired nurse starting off at the same time as you.

Debriefing is a critical part of learning and letting go of stress, but some "debriefs" are better kept confidential. Consider this scenario. Maybe you worked your night shift and gave report in the morning to a nurse who didn't seem real receptive to anything you had to say. Walking out of the building you're blowing off steam and say to your confidant regarding the oncoming nurse, "Does she hate me, or does she just hate mornings?" You laugh, and through your half-opened eyelids, make light of the end of the shift. Certainly, this is not commentary to be having on the unit as you never want to be the person contributing to gossip, starting rumors etc... Yet exchanges like this often bring light to the end of a shift and make going home and tucking yourself into bed a bit more peaceful.

Now What?

These ideas are merely a few to get you started in your new career. More tips to follow in part 2 of this blog. Until then, new graduate nurses, please share what worries you have. Maybe I'll expand on some tips for you in part 2...or 3 or 4. More experienced nurses, what tips can you share with the future of nursing?