If you could give one piece of advice back when you were a new grad RN, what would it be?

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As a new grad RN myself, I am always curious about what experienced nurses would want to tell a younger version of themselves.

If you could give one piece of advice back when you were a new grad RN, what would it be?

Specializes in Nursing Education, Public Health, Medical Policy.
1 hour ago, Ruby Vee said:

More new nurses fail at orientation because their new colleagues don't like them than for any other reason. So it's not enough to concentrate on the job, on giving meds safely and correctly, drawing the labs, critical thinking, etc. You have to work at your workplace relationships as well.

A new nurse who is well liked will be well-mentored. A nurse who is disliked will not be, even if she does everything else right.

This advice ^^^ 100%. Work diligently at forming positive relationships with your co- workers. Take time to show interest in them as a person, even if you really would rather not. Perception is everything and if you are seen as a pleasant human being, other nurses will take the time to mentor you and overlook the minor mistakes everyone has made. Appear standoff-ish, distant, or uninterested in others and you will be stuck out there alone and thrown under the bus when issues occur.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

I think I would tell that younger person I was to never stop learning because whenever I think I know it all, what I don't slaps me in the face.

Hppy

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Specializes in Adult and pediatric emergency and critical care.

Know you limits. Know when to ask for help. Know when to say no.

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Specializes in Emergency, LTC.

You worked hard for your license. Protect it. If you feel a place is unsafe, leave. *Hopefully you'll last last at least 2yrs at your first job* but when you start noticing the red flags, do not ignore them.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Figure out what your boundaries are and stick to them!

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I agree with all prior comments. One I would like to add is Learn to say NO. Although you need to be a team player, it is not your job to staff the floor 7 days/week. You need your days off to recoup so when asked repeatedly to do extra shifts, know your limits.

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I just hit my 2 year mark, so I'm new as well. Most importantly what I have learned is that you must must must take care of yourself on those off days. Start a new hobby, start an at-home yoga practice, volunteer at an organization you are passionate about, go out with friends, visit your family members, catch up on some Grey's or a rewatch a show you love, etc. They say we need those four days off to recover... but laying in bed all day to recover is not healthy. Especially on most of those four days off. Be true and honest to yourself and if you need help, seek it out. It's okay.

Take care. ?

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Don't panic, even if your confused elderly gentleman has just yanked out his central line or your GI bleed patient suddenly gushes blood and loses his blood pressure. Freaking out never does any good, and in fact it can cause harm. Yes, you must be quick to respond to critical incidents, but that's why you have a team. Call on them to help you, even if you're afraid to because everyone else is busy too. You can fall apart later after the emergency is over and you're on your way home. That's one of the things I wish I'd known as a new nurse. ?

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

Take care of yourself. Eat well. Exercise regularly. Get enough sleep. Do things you enjoy on your days off. If it’s your day off and work tries to call you in, tell them no, (unless you actually WANT to work.) Set good boundaries with work. No matter how much you love your job, you are replaceable. Enjoy what you do, but don’t make it your life. (Lessons hard learned in my younger years!)

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For myself? Stay out of the hospital! I’m a generally anxious person, and acute care stressed me out. I work as a nurse educator for a primary care practice now, and am much happier not worrying about who is going to code or stroke out next!

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Medicine is always changing. Be adaptable and try to embrace education from everybody you can get it from. "This is the way we've always done it" doesn't mean it's the right way.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

I’d add, I guess, to determine early on which of the nurses on the unit inspire you for their knowledge, expertise, work ethic, and allow yourself to be mentored by them by seeking their input especially when faced with challenging situations.

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