Hello, I just became an RN, what now?!

futurecnm · May 29, 2008

I personally think the best place to start is probably in a hospital, you will get to practice and learn new skills and you will see such a variety (esp in med/surg). Other options are long term care, home health, outpatient??? is a convelescent home like a group home? I'm not familiar with the term. good luck!

MisterSimba, BSN · May 29, 2008

First of all, congratulations on your accomplishment! :yeah:

What do you mean when you say you "only volunteered" ? Didn't you have clinicals in nursing school? I'm just a volunteer for now, but I've noticed that usually when a patient is moved, it takes two people to do the job, or maybe more depending on the size of the patient. I've helped change and move patients with a CNA, and there's always two of us. I'm pretty sure nobody would expect you to pick up a 6'5" football player and throw him over your shoulder! :chuckle

As far as where to work, it's a matter of preference. Do you like working with children or do you prefer older patients, etc... I'm volunteering on an oncology floor and I really like it. The patients are primarily older (70+), but there are some younger people. Everyone I've met has been very nice and appreciative of my help. How can you not smile when a confused and sweet elderly man asks you "What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?"

I really can't give you specific advice as I won't be a nurse for a couple more years, but I would advise you to not use "like" too often as it, like, makes you look, like, uneducated :wink2: Which you're clearly not since you did graduate from nursing school!

nrsang97, BSN, RN · May 29, 2008

Don't worry about how big the patients are. No one expects you to move someone by yourself.

I do think you should start out in med surg in a local hospital. You will get plenty of learning experiences there. Remember you have co workers you can ask for help, lifting, moving, and also with skills. You will have a better opportunity to fine tune your skills in med surg than in a nursing home (convescalent home). Remember ask lots of questions.

abundantjoy07, RN · May 29, 2008

Congrats on your accomplishment!

I'd start buy browsing this website for all of the specalities in nursing. Check out a book in the library on nursing. Find one specialty that interests you and go after it. You can always start in the hospital on a med-surg floor to really gain the skills you need to take you everywhere else you can go. I mean there's so much out there. Clinic nursing, hospital nursing, home health nursing, school nursing, case management, research, etc. Find what you love and go after it!

Congrats again!!!

hanlema85 · May 29, 2008

First of all, congratulations on your accomplishment!
What do you mean when you say you "only volunteered" ? Didn't you have clinicals in nursing school? I'm just a volunteer for now, but I've noticed that usually when a patient is moved, it takes two people to do the job, or maybe more depending on the size of the patient. I've helped change and move patients with a CNA, and there's always two of us. I'm pretty sure nobody would expect you to pick up a 6'5" football player and throw him over your shoulder! :chuckle
As far as where to work, it's a matter of preference. Do you like working with children or do you prefer older patients, etc... I'm volunteering on an oncology floor and I really like it. The patients are primarily older (70+), but there are some younger people. Everyone I've met has been very nice and appreciative of my help. How can you not smile when a confused and sweet elderly man asks you "What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?"
I really can't give you specific advice as I won't be a nurse for a couple more years, but I would advise you to not use "like" too often as it, like, makes you look, like, uneducated :wink2: Which you're clearly not since you did graduate from nursing school!

Thank you for your reply. What I meant about “only volunteering” was that my experience in the clinical area aside from college without supervision from clinical instructors was only minimal (60days). Aside from that, I was also taking into consideration the type of hospital (primary, secondary, tertiary) I was volunteering in. I just graduated 2 years ago and unlike America, my country is not as highly advanced and the availability of resources (whether person or equipment) were scarce, which is why it could be somewhat intimidating and scary to begin with. Anyway, thank you for the response… and sorry if my vocabulary with the use “of like” redundantly makes me look uneducated, I didn’t really expect this forum to be a ‘formal’ one, so I thought any use of language (not violating the rules and regulations) would be appropriate and accepted, I didn’t know we’d be judged by it. Well, I hope you pass in taking the exam, I’ll be praying for you. Ciao…