New to the floor; now's your time to tell all...

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You guys are great! Everytime I ask questions, I get terrific answers. So, another question....I will be starting on my unit in 3 weeks. I've been a nurse for 13 years, but the last 8 out of the hospital. (Before you panic, I'm still VERY current...) My question is this. If you could say one (or 2 or 3...) things to a nurse (not a new grad) coming to your floor for the first time, what would it be? (She wants to do a great job and get along with everyone..blah, blah, blah.) Thanks a million!

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Just when I give you guys a compliment you hide from me! Help me out here please!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Welcome! I'm here for you. Please communicate with me! :)

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

This is what I do with all new employees and travelers who join us.

I would show you where the supplies and bathrooms are. The coffee machine/break areas. Then the kitchen and patient/guest bathrooms. Then I would introduce you to the doctors and other personnel we work with. I would assist you to find the lab, xray, and nursing supervisor's offices, if you had not been shown in hospital orientation, as well as where our policies and procedures are kept. Believe it or not,many people have NO clue where these things are! It makes for a great start to dialogue with new people to do these things first......

THEN I would advise you NO question is stupid or inappropriate relating to nursing and our duties, and to be a sponge and soak up ALL your could, cause you have to learn fast. Like Tweety said, I would ask you to COMMUNCIATE your needs, questions, concerns and complaints with me openly. I would encourage you to take EVERY opportunity to learn and really be assertive in doing so. I hope this helps.

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I would just say: be yourself oh, and smile, I smile all day and people wonder what I have been up to. It's a great conversation starter, the smile that is. :chuckle

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Could anyone really say it better than smiling blue eyes? the only thing I could add would be to jump in with both feet and don't get frustrated the first week. That's when I see frustration the most, is the 1st week. Just ride it out and the second week will be better..:balloons:

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Pick out the nurse that's been there for 20 something years or more (there's one on every floor) and watch her/him! We have a couple on my floor that are fantastic resources. There's one nurse that's our charge nurse on nights and man oh man she knows EVERYTHING and if she doesn't know it she knows where to find the answer. She's fantastic. She's who I want to be when I become a grown up nurse. LOL.

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