Preparation for my first job

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2009

Congratulations on your new job!!!! Oh geez, I would get the pocket LPN/RN to help you. Didn't you learn how to do the head to toe assessment in nursing school? I would assume that they follow the same concept as we do here. Just as long as the outcome is the same it doesn't matter how you do it. When documenting, that's a different story as that each state has their own rules and regulations. I know that in California rules and regulations are posted on the website. So you can pull them up and read up on them, which I found to be very helpful. Go to amazon and look up any med surg book and see if you can get them at a discount to review. I hope you find this information helpful and good luck in your new job!

sinawahi · Nov 5, 2009

Thanks for the tip, I will do that.

My education was quite different, but I think I will figure that out hopefully.

Didn't know each state documentation laws are different. Where can I look that up online, Board of Nursing?

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2009

Yes the board of nursing should have that information regarding rules and regulations. If you have any questions about anything on there, contact them regarding that.

Let me see, regarding assessment you should do it system by system. Neuro, Cardio, Respiratory, Integementary etc. As long as you keep it by system and for the most part from head to toe and the outcome is the same, you should be fine. When you go to work, ask your proctor to go through that with you and let them know that you want to do it according to how it's done here in the US. Good Luck

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Nov 6, 2009

I will start to work in a couple of weeks. It is my first job in USA. What books would you recommend to read or study to make my start easier? I mean with documentation, assessment, laws what ever....
I am very nervous and really want to use the weeks until the real life starts.

It really depends where you are going to be working, many hospitals do computer charting which has templates. LTC has very detailed charting depending on the level of care.

Home care has certain elements also.

dishes, BSN, RN · Nov 6, 2009

Congratulations on starting your new job. The above posters have offered some good suggestions, in adddition to checking your BON regarding professional standards, you could also review legislation that helps protect patient's privacy, this legislation is known as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the US. http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/

You may have studied the international code of ethics for nurses during nursing school, you could increase your knowledge about ethics by reviewing the American code of ethics for nurses, it is available on the american nursing association website http://www.nursingworld.org/

You workplace should go over their expectations regarding HIPPA and documentation and where to access their policies and procedures during your orientation. Some hospitals have their policies and procedures available electronically and are available for you to review at your convenience.

There are lots of good suggestions that you may find helpful in the allnurses forum "First year after nursing licensure" in particular the stickie "Tips for nurses in their first year of nursing".

https://allnurses.com/first-year-after/tips-nurses-their-109924.html

Also there are some good tips from Donna Cardillo's article "Six stragies for starting a new job"

http://www.dcardillo.com/articles/strategiesfornewjob.html

happy reading and best wishes on your nursing career in the US.

dishes

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Nov 8, 2009

I will start to work in a couple of weeks. It is my first job in USA. What books would you recommend to read or study to make my start easier? I mean with documentation, assessment, laws what ever....
I am very nervous and really want to use the weeks until the real life starts.

Hopefully, you get adequate orientation with a good preceptor. What setting are you working in? When I started my first hospital job, I was assigned in a medical telemetry unit. The books that helped me a lot was a Drug Handbook (any publisher would work), a book of lab and diagnostic tests with explanation of what they are used for as well as normal lab result ranges, and a pocket Med-Surg Nursing handbook. We had an orientation session on computer documentation which pretty much covered what I needed to learn as far as what to write. Since you would be working under a preceptor, use that person as your resource on legalities and scope of practice issues in addition to familiarizing yourself with the Risk Management Department of the institution you'll be working for. Finally, if your preceptor doesn't bring it up, ask the for the unit's book or online link to the institutions Policies and Procedures. These will help your transition a little bit easier. Good luck!