New nurse advice

[sdarrington]

For a class assignment we were asked to post a couple questions to a nursing forum. I was wondering what is a piece of advice you wish someone would have told you as a brand new nurse?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

For a class assignment we were asked to post a couple questions to a nursing forum. I was wondering what is a piece of advice you wish someone would have told you as a brand new nurse?

A homework assignment from a poster who admits it's a homework assignment to post in a forum! How refreshing.

The first bit of advice I'll give you is not to use your name or any portion of your name to post in a nursing forum. Anonymity will serve you far better -- this isn't really "social media." Sooner or later you will post a dumb question, an opinion that will rile up a large segment of posters or a bit too much information about a patient or coworker. You don't want to be so easily identifiable that when someone prints out your post and slides it under your manager's door you have no deniability. Seriously, that happens. Sometimes it's warranted because someone posted such an egregiously erroneous opinion; oftentimes it is not. Nurses have been fired, students have been suspended or expelled and new orientees have been disciplined for such errors in judgement.

On a related subject, clean up your social media profile now. It will be scrutinized when you're applying for jobs. Hospitals have an entire department of folks whose job is to scour social media for mentions of their hospital, posts by their employees, etc. A photo of a colleague posted to Facebook showing him with his shoes off, feet up sitting at the nurse's station with the call light board all lit up behind him ended up in his suspension without pay and eventual termination. It is my understanding that it was IT who called the post to the attention of our boss and HER boss. Don't mention anything about the name of your school, your clinicals, etc. on social media unless it's a closed and completely private group.

Your colleagues are your coworkers, not your best friends for life or your family. You'll like some of them, and they may become BFFs. You won't like others yet they'll be valuable colleagues who will have your back when you need it. Some will seem to have no social redeeming value whatsoever, but you'll have to tolerate them anyway. Nurses don't "eat their young", but a newbie who cannot navigate workplace relationships may feel as if they do.

There's a huge learning curve when you become a nurse -- you won't realize how enormous until you experience it. We've all been through it. You're not abnormal, you're not alone. This is a really great place to get a reality check, sound advice and another way to look at things.

Welcome to AN!

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

Ruby V is wise. I would add that if there are difficulties with a preceptor (not just you think s/he doesn't like you; but s/he is making racist/sexist statements, etc. - take copious notes and request a new preceptor (tell the education staff why.)

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

You have received very enlighten advice, from some very seasoned nurses, which I concur

[sdarrington]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a great reply! I really appreciate it!