In your experience, the hardest part of being an RN

Nurses General Nursing

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For those of us coming up behind you, things we need to keep in mind becoming RN's.

Things you wish you could tell yourself if you could go back.

Thanks in advance for your reply.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Things I wish I could tell myself back then?

That I can't be perfect, and that it's ok. That I can't know everything, and that it's ok to ask others for help. That I need to not put anything off until later-to do it right away because I am probably going to be too busy later (in the shift).

That there will be some nurses who will be mean to me no matter what I do. That the best retaliation is to become a better nurse.

And the best advice? To bring a snack.

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Specializes in Paediatric Cardic critical care.

There are loads of things most probably but right now the main thing for me would be; take oppertunities as the arise (with courses etc) be proactive with your patients, don't be affraid of speaking up in ward rounds incased you say the wrong thing or something stupid... you spend the most time with the patient so a lot of the time you do know best!

And most of all... It's your job not your life :specs: Thats become somewhat of a motto of mine! Go in do your best, enjoy yourself and then go home and enjoy your life :specs:

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.
In your experience, the hardest part of being an RN

As a hospital floor RN:

We have all the responsibility and very little power.

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Navigating the BS and all the obticles are the hardest parts of being an RN.

It seems that most systems in place are designed in such a way as to put many obstacles between the nurse and what she needs to do to insure good pt care. The sytems seem to be set up to make even the simplest things difficult, time consuming, and frustrating.

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Specializes in trauma, ortho, burns, plastic surgery.

"In your experience, the hardest part of being an RN"

Is to convince your self that you did everythink human possible to save a life but is the time to bent your head.....is not possible more and is not in nobody power to help more!

Is still hard for me and probably will be very hard to accept that long time from now! I am RN to saving lifes!I am Zuzi to celebrate life and love and happiness, that is all. Much more is HARDEST PART! :heartbeat:nuke:

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

Hmmmmmmm for me I do not see any part of being an RN as hard.

My career has been nothing short of interesting and had driven me on to stay in this career for over 30 years now.

I have finally found the greatest joy in nursing working in Hospice as a Case Manager.

Nope nothing hard about it. :yeah::yeah::yeah:

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

Things to keep in mind....you cannot/will not ever know it all. Ask questions & ask for help when you are unsure about something. Learning does not stop once you graduate...its only beginning. Be kind, compassionate, and triple check everything you do.

Things I wished I could have told myself......There is life outside work. Take time for yourself & family....they will surive without you working that extra shift! It all gets eaiser with time....be patient. Don't be too hard on yourself....no one is perfect.

My best advice....I say a prayer before every shift.

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My :twocents:

Remember you are your patient's advocate - work hard to keep them safe and monitor them - staying on top of your game always. When you leave - try to leave the job for the next nurse - go home, enjoy your family/life.

Establish a team atmosphere on your unit if it's not already there - help the nurse next to you - and she'll help you .... you should never feel alone or let someone else feel alone/overwhelmed.

Keep yourself in check - ask yourself during your shift am I doing everything I can/should for my patients

stay away from negative people, it will bring you down

don't gossip treat people how you want to be treated

say a prayer before every shift - keep your patient's safe and help you to be the best nurse you can

:nurse:

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Specializes in ICU-CVICU.

You only have one back...protect it and keep it in good shape!

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Specializes in ER/ICU, CCL, EP.

The hardest part? All the parts are pretty difficult...lol

The hardest part for me is that no matter how much you care about your patients, sometimes they do not care about themselves. Patients will refuse treatments that are necessary for them to continue living, then blame you if they feel bad or have pain. They will continue their bad lifestyle choices...ie drinking and doing drugs, refusing medications, or eating a pound of sugar a day when they are obese and diabetic. And sometimes.....I feel guilty that I was not able to talk that crabby old guy into taking his medicine or putting the snickers bar down. My preceptor said, "You cannot save everyone, but you have to try."

That's the toughest part for me.

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Specializes in med-surg 5 years geriatrics 12 years.

Always remember it's okay to take care of yourself...if you don't no one else will and those of us in the trenches understand when you need to put yourself first.

And be kind to yourself; you are not perfect so things will not always go as you want them to.

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