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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!

I love, love, LOVE Hurst- I can’t say enough good things about it. Hurst is a great content review, which is what I needed. They make the information extremely easy to understand while also making it fun and interesting. I will say I didn’t care for their practice tests- they were very easy compared to NCLEX. For practice questions/tests and testing strategies I would use Kaplan and Lacharity. For content, go with Hurst!

I had an interesting conversation the other night with my coworkers regarding specialties and our personal love or disdain for each one. From our conversation it seems, whether it be ICU, tele, OB, peds, neuro etc, we each tend to naturally gravitate towards a specific specialty- why do you think that is? On the same token we each seem to have a specialty we loathe with a mad passion- again, why do you think that is? Do our innermost workings subliminally guide our focus within the medical world or is it heavily based on our own past experiences? Does each specialty tend to command a certain personality type and/or characteristic? Without such attributes would one successfully acclimate and thrive there? With that being said, my question to you is: what specialty are you naturally drawn to? Which do you avoid like the plague and why? Did you ever enter a specialty expecting to love it only to find you actually hate it? Did you unexpectedly find your passion in an area you once shunned? For me- Love: pediatrics and unexpectedly L&D. There is something about those little kiddos that brings me unspeakable amounts of joy and satisfaction. I feel I'm a better nurse when I am caring for peds patients. I love when I can turn my work into little games and challenges for them. My love for pediatrics is shaped more so by my personality than any such past experience. Loathe: Cardiac I hate, hate, hate cardiac. It has never interested me and the thought of ever working on a tele floor makes me want to cry. My disdain for cardiac is of unkown etiology at this time :)

That's a pretty good question. Personally I give Dilaudid, Morphine, Norco, Zofran and Phenergan more than any other drug. A close second to that little group would be Metoprolol, Protonix, Lovenox and insulin. I also give tons of antibiotics with the majority being Zosyn and Rochephin. I am interested to hear what others will say.

It doesn't seem like it's enough because it’s not! It’s terrifying to think we are trusted and responsible for human lives after that short amount of time. Just make every day of your orientation count. Morph into a sponge and soak up everything you can, ask lots and lots of questions, study on your days off but understand you will not learn everything nor are you expected to in that short six week span. And always, always remember when you are finally on your own you are never truly ‘on your own’- there will always be people there to help you!

I am a December 2013 grad currently working on Med/Surg. I received a six week orientation. Six weeks sounded alright but in reality that is only 18 actual days with a preceptor- 18 days and then this girl was on her own. SCARY! I have been on my own for a couple of months now- I have good days and bad days. Every day is a learning experience.

Fear and stress are no such bless but are the rush I seem to feel I finally see, that indeed, the new grad blues are very real. Looking dumb and feeling slow are the only things I seem to know. When will I pass this such phase and exit the daunting new grad maze? When will I hone my nursing skills and not like I'm drowning plum up to my gills? When will I become competent and start to feel halfway confident? Where is the day of fruition when I find my nursing intuition? When will I prove myself to you and finally become one of the crew? Is it normal to have such struggle? Should I be having this much trouble? Drudging through this humbling time consumes with worry my anxious mind. Will I catch on and know what to do or will I freeze up and not have a clue? With each patient I can't help but worry; will I be explaining my care to a judge and a jury? Regardless of matter or how hard I try I'm eventually deduced to a self-pity cry. I'm told my fears are normal, benign and that things will improve- just give it some time. So until the splendor of that wonderful day- it is for guidance and strength I will continue to pray For all the new nurses feeling stressed and alone- allow some time to come into your own. For what is worth and what I hear, it is pure hell the very first year :)

Throughout my orientation, I found not just a preceptor, but a mentor, a colleague and a friend. I am forever grateful that, for me, she provided a safe environment free of hostility and judgment - but one conducive to teaching, learning and growing. I ended my orientation with many of her pearls of wisdom, nuggets of knowledge and the confidence to know I am on my way to one day being the nurse God created me to be. I only hope she knows how truly special she is! To my preceptor: With your many years in nursing, I know I am just another face; just another mindless new grad - clueless, jittery and slow. Although my face will soon fade from your memory, yours will forever be present in mine. Your razor sharp intelligence, your thick gritty exterior, your invaluable experience, and warm, compassionate heart have helped mold me into the nurse God has called me to be. The worst kept secret in nursing is the difficulty transitioning from 'student nurse' to 'real nurse'; and boy is that transition rough. No amount of schooling, studying, or clinical time will ever truly prepare you for 'real world nursing'. It much reminds me of the military. Basic training is absolutely essential in laying the foundation for a good soldier, but it will never prepare him for the gruesome reality of war. The process of such a transition is quite difficult and at times extremely painful. For this I am forever grateful for your willingness to help me weather the blustery storms that blow through the trenches of nursing. Thank you for being my battle-buddy. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge with me. Thank you for showing me how to prioritize in the real world and explaining that not everything is a crisis. Thank you for nurturing my fragile, almost non-existent confidence. Thank you for not making me feel absolutely incompetent for asking silly, mindless, and seemingly basic questions. Thank you for teaching me to pop in a piece of gum when I feel the urge to cry in front of my patients. This will hold the tears at bay until I can make it to the supply closet; with this I can hold it together and remain a strong pillar of strength for my patients in the midst of highly emotional situations. Thank you for showing me what it really means to be a patient advocate. Thank you for forfeiting those sacred moments of 'down time' you rarely seem to find to instead graciously help me better understand those wonky tele strips. Thank you for always reassuring me and reminding me that everyone makes mistakes - even you. Thank you for reminding me that every mistake, every error, ever near miss must be taken as an opportunity to learn and to grow. Thank you for pushing me, for giving me just enough rope to feel uncomfortably independent, but not enough to hang myself. Thank you for reminding me that this unnerving phase in my nursing career is much like a jigsaw puzzle - the pieces are there, but figuring out how they fit together takes a little time. Thank you for your incredible patience with a bright eyed, bushy tailed, green-as-green-can-get new nurse. With this I must say, you were so very right. The tears, the long hours, the doubts, the frustrations and fear are all worth it when your patient tells you that yes, you were the calming presence in a painful, scary situation. Yes, to you I am just another face, but to me, you are the physical embodiment of the confidence, focus, peace, compassion, and patience I prayed for in a preceptor every night. Although I am only a few steps out of the gate and have many, many more to go- thank you for helping this turtle come out of her shell. I only hope that someday I can provide a scared, inexperienced, doe-eyed novice the same guidance you have provided me!

Good luck tomorrow- Praying for you girl!!

That is a gold nugget piece of advice right there!! My school's pass rate dropped after NCLEX raised passing standard in April- that had a lot to do with my willingness to invest in resources!

Thank you so much for kind words!! I hear you on getting your content down-that was my main focus!! I honestly think content is the most important part- no amount of strategies will help unless you know the content first! I watched all of the lectures twice but the one’s I felt weak in I watched 3-4 times (cardiac, endocrine and F/E ). I started to ‘get it’ when I would study the ‘why’ instead of the ‘what’- it just started to make sense. With F&E I stopped memorizing ‘what’ the s/s of electrolyte imbalances were and studied to understand ‘why’ these s/s were occurring. For example the s/s of hypercalcemia are lethargy, decreased respirations, decreased pulse, decreased muscle tone and decreased DTR- but why? Well, calcium acts as a sedative on smooth muscles, so when you have too much calcium those muscles become very sedated. So, if calcium acts a sedative on smooth muscles and if too much calcium causes severe sedation then that must mean not having enough calcium would make those muscles very UN-sedated. This explains the s/s of hypocalcemia: tetany, seizures, laryngospasms and arrhythmias. When I started studying this way, I was able to catch on to things quicker and actually remember them. After watching the videos a few times I felt I had a handle on them. I hope that makes sense lol. You know what they say, third time’s a charm- you got this!!!!! I am certainly praying for you!!!