For the experienced nurses...

Nurses General Nursing

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My question is for the experienced nurses out there! I am wondering if any of you can think back over the years and come up with just ONE thing that you know now that you wish you would have known when you first started out as a nurse. I will be finished with school in May and then I will take boards shortly after. This field is becomming more and more competative and I would love to somehow "stand out" among the other nurses, without feeling like show off. Any advice?

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

To not be so hard on myself when I graduated as it really will take at least a year that you will finally stop asking yourself everyday if you made the right decision....AND....doctor bark and growl, but they don't actually bite.....the put their pants on like everybody does and their :poop: does stink like every one else. That they huff and puff....but never really blow the house down.

And ......good brain sheets.......here are a few.

doc.gif mtpmedsurg.doc

doc.gif 1 patient float.doc‎

doc.gif 5 pt. shift.doc‎

doc.gif finalgraduateshiftreport.doc‎

doc.gif horshiftsheet.doc‎

doc.gif report sheet.doc‎

doc.gif day sheet 2 doc.doc

doc.gif ICU report sheet.doc‎

‎critical thinking flow sheet for nursing students

student clinical report sheet for one patient

I have made some for nursing students and some other an members (daytonite, RIP) have made these for others.....adapt them way you want. I hope they help

((HUGS)) good luck!

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

It is okay, AllRight, and not unethical to call in sick when you are!

Armaggheden does not start, blood does not flow in the streets, the mortality rate does not skyrocket, the hospital does not close it's doors.

I went to work sick way too often because I thought surely the couldn't do without me.

On the other hand, don't call in all the time, just because you want a day off, or you might have a headache, or yesterday's shift was just too hard....... be known as someone who shows up ready to work, pulls their own load, and doesn't call off with out a darn good reason.

Not to mention, places that combine sick leave and vacation, well I had over 10 weeks leave saved, and am enjoying a 5 week overseas vacation, all while getting paid :cool:

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Nursing is a 24 hr thing; do what you can and then pass along the rest of it. You are NOT indispensable, so take care of yourself: don't feel guilt for calling out sick when you are sick and don't let them make you feel guilty for not working extra or overtime. Remember to take your breaks and to pee periodically because you can't take care if others if you don't take care of yourself. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Thanks Esme12 for those brain sheets! I had my system back home, but never too late to try something new, and there's a few of those I definitely want to try!

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Two things to remember:

1. Don't nurse the machines - look at, listen to, and touch your patient.

2. Talk to your patient, talk to your patient, talk to your patient.

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You just need to believe in yourself... cause sometimes confidence is the key for competence... When I first started in the hospital it was like beginning from a scratch... But the thing that gives me the skills that I have honed is the confidence that I have... When you start to doubt yourself then you'll definitely end up committing mistakes, and if you do that will totally affect you. Not just yourself but to your charge nurse too as it will yield a negative impression... 1st impression lasts...

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My question is for the experienced nurses out there! I am wondering if any of you can think back over the years and come up with just ONE thing that you know now that you wish you would have known when you first started out as a nurse. I will be finished with school in May and then I will take boards shortly after. This field is becomming more and more competative and I would love to somehow "stand out" among the other nurses, without feeling like show off. Any advice?

There is no "one thing" that experienced nurses wish we could've known when we 1st started out. There are a million things! If you want to "stand out" as a new nurse, here are my suggestions:

1) ASK QUESTIONS

2) when in doubt, DON'T until you ask

3) know what you don't know (see #1)

4) be a part of your team, help out

5) don't engage in work gossip

Now that I look on my list, I see I'm addressing non-patient care issues. As far as direct patient care issues go, refer to #2. 8^)

You may or may not stand out no matter what you do. Take care of your patients to the best of your abilities/experience. You'll learn as you go just like the rest of us.

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