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I absolutely do this- I do it every day when I am at work. I pray for the wellbeing of my patients- this may be through healing or simply peace/comfort. I pray that God lead me in the direction in which He needs me. I pray for Him to watch over my mind and my hands so that I may provide quality and compassionate care for my patients. I pray for the knowledge needed to do my job. When a RR/code/trauma etc is called over head I pray for the patient in question and the team that is caring for them. I pray all the time, everyday. I love the Lord and I rely on Him completely- that dependence leads to prayer.

No problem!! Good luck

As you already know, this will vary from person to person- what worked for one may not work for another. With that being said, personally, I found Kaplan's questions to be the closest thing to NCLEX. As for ATI- what a joke! It was a complete waste of time and was no where near what you will see on NCLEX. I am not familiar with RN mastery so I cannot comment on it. My personal recommendations are Hurst for content, Kaplan for questions and Lacharity for prioritization/delegation.

I actually just got done precepting a nurse with 10+ years of experience who had spent the last several in a clinic- she felt the very same way. She said she felt like a new grad again, but after a couple of weeks she found her groove and by the end of her orientation she was doing great and getting better everyday! I think it's just a matter of dusting off what you already know- before you know it you will be back in the swing of things!

I had a sweet and pleasantly confused 90 something year old patient who I was helping off the BSC. It was the highlight of my day when this prim and proper lady told me to make sure her 'cooterpuss was nice and dry'.

It's a powerful moment when you see those two letters for the first time- they hold a deep sense of accomplishment. Just wait until you get to legally write it for the first time! Your words struck me as very poignant and reflective- for that reason I want you to keep your original post nearby and refer to it often over the next 12 months. As you have probably heard, it is after graduation and licensure that the real learning begins. The first year of nursing can be quite a ride- and the growing pains can, at times, can be a little uncomfortable. But know through it all, these initial pains are what is shaping you into a safe, well rounded and compassionate nurse- also know these such pains will diminish over time. As a new grad, you will quickly learn that school teaches you next to nothing and because of that, you will learn more in the first six months than you did in all of NS school. You will also, for the first time, experience the full weight and responsibility your credentials carry. You will have moments where you will feel utterly defeated, insecure, inadequate, doubtful and exhausted. You will question your competence, your judgment, your skills, and your endurance. You will encounter moments when your heart swells with compassion and empathy; and moments it shatters with sadness and tragedy. You will be reminded that we are all human and we all make mistakes; this includes physicians. Each passing day you will realize how much you don't know, yet gain the understanding that you will never know it all- you have entered a profession in which you are now a lifetime learner. You will discover that you're not just caring for a patient, but you are also caring for the family as well- and by virtue of this, you will gain understanding into the art of nursing. Above all know that the first year is far from a cakewalk and if/when things become a little uncomfortable, refer back to you post. Use it to remind yourself why you are here, why you chose this profession. Appreciate the unique role we play in the life of another- be it good or bad, we are afforded the opportunity to become a part of their story- and that in itself is a privilege. Don't ever let that pride, humility and passion diminish! Good luck and welcome to the RN family!

Forgetting to release suction before removing a JP drain- I still feel horrible about this.

When I was in nursing school, I had to completely change my way of thinking and methods of study. Nursing tests are difficult because they are not 'knowledge based' questions; instead, they are 'application' and higher order thinking questions.They force you to critically think your way through a question. With this, I learned the importance of studying the 'why' behind things instead of just memorizing the 'what' of things. For example, instead of just memorizing s/s of a specific ailment or deficiency, study to understand why these things are happening. Instead of memorizing specific interventions r/t an illness look at why we are doing these things. I found that having a concrete understanding of patho allowed me to 'critically think'- I was better able to anticipate potential outcomes as well as possible interventions and s/s. I also found that mock teaching helped me tremendously. When preparing for a test, I would pretend I was lecturing a class over the said material.'Teaching', for me, really helped solidify my understanding of the material and promoted better information retention. I also would mention that study groups are worth their weight in gold! Nursing school is tough- hang in there!!

I think evangelism in nursing can be a good thing. I became a nurse because I was called to do so by the Lord- I serve God by serving others and caring for His children in times of great need. It is my hope that Jesus uses me as a vessel to provide compassionate and merciful care. I would never, ever push my beliefs on another person; but if the opportunity arose and was initiated by a patient, I would absolutely share the Gospel, as it is the song of my soul. Evangelism on a ‘ward' can be a good thing if used appropriately. Sharing the Gospel is different than preaching the Gospel.

I also work in a state that does not have patient ratio laws- it's extremely frustrating. I work day shift on a med/surg unit and our ratio is 6:1 IF were staffed appropriately- but that never happens. We are always short and on those days we have 6-8 patients. With admissions and discharges we are looking at about 12-14 patients per day. It's ridiculous and by the end of the day I am ready to pull my hair out. I am a new nurse of 9 months and I am finding it very difficult to develop solid critical thinking skills because I have no time to actually stop and THINK- instead, I spend my days running down the hall throwing pills at people. I envy those who make it look easy.

Risk for blood clots due to immobility Risk for pneumonia due to immobility

Form a study group- they are extremely beneficial because you able to bounce ideas off one another and compare. Don’t procrastinate! Once you fall behind it’s almost impossible to catch back up. Stay on top of your readings and so forth. When studying, study to understand the ‘why’ behind things and not the ‘what’. For example: don’t just study what the s/s of a specific disease are or what interventions are necessary; but instead, focus on why these things are happening. Understanding the ‘why’ behind things will allow you to critically think-this will aid you in knowledge application and anticipated outcomes. Organization- in nursing school you have a million things thrown at you. It’s incredibly overwhelming – but superb organization makes the workload far more manageable. This will also help you when you begin your career as well; especially in the beginning. Nursing school is tough- but dedication and determination will carry you through! Good luck and best wishes!

Congrats on your progress that's wonderful!! No your not crazy!! It's refreshing to hear a new grad enjoying their job! Personally, I think a lot of it has to do with the 'culture' on your floor. A new nurse who is surrounded by supportive and encouraging coworkers/preceptors has a far different outlook and experiences greater job satisfaction than a new grad stuck in a cesspool of negativity and toxicity. I also work M/S and I love my job- but the honeymoon phase started to fizzle when I was finally on my own. The nerves and anxiety started to set in after orientation- not because I hated my job or that I dreaded being there. It was the enormous responsibility of my new role and my utter incompetence as a brand new nurse that contributed to my 'new grad willies'. Six months later I still love my job- but I'm just not 'in love' with my job anymore if that makes any sense. So, all that to say- no you are not crazy. It is possible to love med-surg! Goodluck- keep us posted on your journey! Welcome to the med/surg clan!!

Well the Harvest Moon really stirred things up on my floor Monday night- it was absolutely and completely insane. Who am I kidding- the entire hospital was sheer madness! Did anyone else experience the Monday 'lunacy'?

Congrats to you my friend and welcome aboard!! From one new nurse to another, my biggest piece of advice is buckle up and get ready for a wild ride. The past six months, for me, have been the hardest yet most rewarding in my life to date. You are about to embark on a journey and a profession that demands a soft heart, thick skin and patience beyond belief. Because the transition from student nurse to real nurse is notoriously difficult it’s important that you remain teachable, be humble. You will learn more in the first 6 months to 1 year of nursing than you did in all of school. Be open to criticism, receptive to feedback and never be afraid to ask questions or solicit help. Nursing school only teaches you about 10% of what you need to be nurse. The other 90% you will learn on the job. Please know that the first year is rough, especially the first 6 months- you will feel stress, you will question yourself and your competency, you will feel overwhelmed, you will make mistakes and, for a while, you will feel uncomfortable in your new role. But also please know that these feelings are completely normal and are experienced by all new nurses. Proficiency takes time- and with that time these feelings will eventually diminish. I have also found that organization is a key factor in surviving as a nurse and a good ‘brain’ will soon become your best friend. I’m certainly not trying to scare you- but often times new grads enter their career with a slanted view of nursing and are subsequently blindsided by reality. With that being said, be prepared for a challenging year but also be prepared for a year of immense personal growth and the humility of knowing you were given the unique opportunity to truly make a difference in the life of another human being- that is a great privilege. So- take a deep breath, say a little prayer and knock em’ dead! Welcome to the world of nursing!