New Grad Advice

[kgg6]

I'm about to graduate from Nursing School! Any advice to a new grad getting started? Things you wish someone had told you about starting your career path?

[melizerd, ASN, RN]

I'm still a new nurse, passed boards in Feb 2014 and got a job in June 2014.

Be open to different places, hospitals, units, LTC etc as a first job. Sometimes you just need a job, you can always keep looking for something else.

Don't get depressed over the number of applications you put in, I put in almost 300 before getting four interviews in the same week.

Realize you will likely not get the optimal shift, or schedule. I would have loved to be full time, but I was offered a .5 position. I've now creeped up to .6, I'll keep increasing as I want/can.

Ask questions! All questions, especially the "silly" ones.

Leave work at work. Decompress in the parking lot, go over everything you feel the need to triple check before you leave the lot. I double check charting after report and then once more I run through a random list in my head, but when I leave work I'm done!

Enjoy it! This is what you've worked for! I'm amazed how differently I feel in 6 months, the first year is a long one LOL! But it does slowly keep getting better.