On Floor Tips for New Graduates

817nurse · Nov 9, 2014

I make a list while getting report of things that need to be done for the day. I call it a paper brain because it keeps my thought process from wandering and keeps me on task. I don't memorize diseases. Rote memory has its place, but not with diseases. I get a deeper conceptual understanding of the diseases by looking them up on my own time and identifying patterns.

For patient teaching, always identify whether they are ready to learn. Use simple language and no jargon. Ask the patient to demonstrate skills back to you so you know they really understand what you tell them.

RN403, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2014

Group your med pass and assessments together. Try to cluster activities. It will save you time. Always ask a patient if there is anything else they need when you go to get them something as it will keep you from running back and forth a million times.

There are also many other threads with great tips and brain sheets that you might find of assistance.

Best wishes.

RNperdiem, RN · Nov 9, 2014

Somewhere, usually on your computer, you can find the hospital's policy and procedure manual. Don't be afraid to read it when you are unsure. I have 16 years of experience,and will read it before doing something I am not completely familiar with.

Start your day/night with a good breakfast.

Get yourself 2 pairs of comfortable shoes and rotate them. Shoes air out and last longer. Shoes are important.

For the first couple of times you need to call a doctor, have another nurse verify that you have all the information you need( a set of vital signs, recent lab results, prn meds you gave) before calling the doctor.

RN403, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2014

"For the first couple of times you need to call a doctor, have another nurse verify that you have all the information you need( a set of vital signs, recent lab results, prn meds you gave) before calling the doctor."

This is a great tip.

supernurse2014 · Nov 10, 2014

Thank you guys so much!

Great tips so far everyone. Keep them coming please!! As a new graduate, I quickly found out that the real world is not like book. All these tips can greatly help me in being successful in my first job as well as the rest of my career.

Question, Are the hospital policies and procedures only available through the hospital's network? Therefore, I wouldn't be able to access them at home?

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 10, 2014

Thank you guys so much!
Great tips so far everyone. Keep them coming please!! As a new graduate, I quickly found out that the real world is not like book. All these tips can greatly help me in being successful in my first job as well as the rest of my career.
Question, Are the hospital policies and procedures only available through the hospital's network? Therefore, I wouldn't be able to access them at home?

During school, we were encouraged to look at each facility's P&P documents so that we could have a better understanding of what was expected and better integrate with the floor staff. Until relatively recently, only one had files that were visible to external sources. I would imagine that if you needed access while off-site, you'd have to go through some procedure that their IT department could guide you through.

While it can make things a bit more difficult for staff to study on their own time, it definitely makes it a whole lot more difficult for non-staff to get to the same P&P manual... which cuts down on lawsuits.

firstinfamily, RN · Nov 11, 2014

There are a few things every floor nurse should have in her/his pockets: scissors, alcohol wipes, flashlight, surgical tape, having these on hand will keep you from walking down the hall to get these items when needed. I always start my day with my physcial assessment and check the IV site during this, then my med run starts. I like to see all my patients before I get bogged down with medicines. Remember, no matter how organized you may be, there will be things that happen during the shift that will most likely throw you off, don't take it personally.

RNperdiem, RN · Nov 12, 2014

I found it useful to print out a few commonly used policy/procedure topics at work and keep a file at home for home study after using it at work. There is a home link on my work intranet where you need to put in you password for home access, but I have a hard time navigating it on my home computer, so I print at work.

supernurse2014 · Nov 13, 2014

There are a few things every floor nurse should have in her/his pockets: scissors, alcohol wipes, flashlight, surgical tape, having these on hand will keep you from walking down the hall to get these items when needed. I always start my day with my physcial assessment and check the IV site during this, then my med run starts. I like to see all my patients before I get bogged down with medicines. Remember, no matter how organized you may be, there will be things that happen during the shift that will most likely throw you off, don't take it personally.

Very good point. So you do all of your assessments first before you pass all of your meds? Is it possible to do it at the same time? Has anyone tried that approach? If so, how does it work out for you?

Another very important question of mine- When do you do your charting? After each patient, or after you see all of them?

firstinfamily, RN · Nov 13, 2014

Super 2014, Yes, I see all of my patients before I start my med run. I want to see them, talk to them, assess them before I start my meds. I prefer to not do both at the same time because this way I have a good foundation of what is going on with them. I usually start my meds by 08:30 and have them done by 09:30. I start my first charting after the med run is done unless there is something acute going on. If a patient has something acute going on I chart on that pt first because usually that patient is going to require more of my time and possibly be transferred to a higher level of care----therefore, I want all my charting done to correlate with when things are happening with that patient. I sent someone to ICU today and because my charting was all done, I did not have to go back and re-tract any interventions or try to remember when I did what. It is important to stay on task with your documentation. I usually do it as I go along. I do not wait until the end of the shift etc. There is too much that can happen and I like to stay on top of things. It has taken me years to get my groove, and every time I change work environments I have to find a new groove, but you will find yours also.

LVHI_RN · Nov 14, 2014

Create a very good "brain". Tailor it to your unit and its style.