Survival Tips for First Year Nurses

MadelineGlass · Nov 18, 2004

I ca't seem to agree with ya'll!:chair:

As a new floor nurse there were tons of stuff that I saw 'seasoned'nurses doing that I dont ever want to do. Standards of care that I dont want to do..I liked my education and theory of nursing.

When i opened my mouth to ask questions the 'seasoned' nurses got offended. like i was questioning their motives, when i was asking rationale. If something a 'seasoned' nurse is doing that doesnt coincide with what I was taught and what the state licensed me , I should have every right to ask the rational (its my responsibilty to know) if I am being instructed to do something else! Its not the newbie fault if you get offended. that is something we all must look inside ourselves for.

Seasoned nurses out there , lets please remember that the newbies to the floor are fresh and the most up to date technology and research data. That is priceless if mixed into reality.

So please give the newbies a chance and not be so defensive!!!

lol

That is so true!
The best nurses ask ALOT of questions!
I ask more questions than ever.
Another tip or two:
*There is always "another way" to do virtually ANYTHING.*
*If you have a vague feeling that "something" is wrong with your patient, but you can't find any "evidence" (i.e., bad vital signs, bad labs) yet, trust your instincts and watch the patient - more than likely you will be proven right.*
*Pick the experienced nurses' brains for tips. If you see a nurse who is very good at a certain thing (inserting an NG, a Foley, etc.), ask her to share her tips....starting IVs is another thing most nurses have trouble getting the hang of.*

BSN2004NSU, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2004

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful advice. I start my job in January, I'll remember these tips.

BSN2004NSU

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2004

I ca't seem to agree with ya'll!:chair:
As a new floor nurse there were tons of stuff that I saw 'seasoned'nurses doing that I dont ever want to do. Standards of care that I dont want to do..I liked my education and theory of nursing.
When i opened my mouth to ask questions the 'seasoned' nurses got offended. like i was questioning their motives, when i was asking rationale. If something a 'seasoned' nurse is doing that doesnt coincide with what I was taught and what the state licensed me , I should have every right to ask the rational (its my responsibilty to know) if I am being instructed to do something else! Its not the newbie fault if you get offended. that is something we all must look inside ourselves for.
Seasoned nurses out there , lets please remember that the newbies to the floor are fresh and the most up to date technology and research data. That is priceless if mixed into reality.
So please give the newbies a chance and not be so defensive!!!
lol

i'm chiming in with this post. when i was a brand spanking new nurse, my preceptor (from hell) was essentially incompetent, and i quickly learned that it;s best not to question her (i was looking for rationales not trying to put her on the spot) because she had no clue what she was doing most of the time. she put a non-rebreather on a pt and put the O2 at 2L. she suctioned trachs lacking even aseptic technique, much less sterile. she yelled at me for questioning her on these subjects and after these encounters took great delight in pointing out my faults and mistakes. she tore me apart.

if you think that your preceptor isn't up to snuff, find another one. i KNOW i am not a picky persnickity student nurse. i left that hospital to have my baby and now that i am back at work in a new hospital i can see very clearly that it really was her and the old hospital's enviornment that left me feeling frightened of nursing (i felt as though.. i felt as though it were somehow my fault that i wasnt fitting in with my preceptor. i felt as though i would never be able to work with a variety of people if i could not work with her). my new preceptors (i have at least three... im very flexible and take whomever is on shift) are all wonderful and i am learning TONS and am happy and feel useful and don;t get shot down when i ask questions about why certain things are being done.

if you are really feeling torn up baout your new job, it might be the enviornment and not whether or not you are a good nurse.

JACALA_CL · Nov 18, 2004

this may sound simple but what saved my butt more times than not was waking up every morning refreshed. no "all nighters". bedtime was 1030 latest 11pm. (and of course always eat breakfast)

(sorry if some one else already posted, i couldn't go through all the posts)

purplemania, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2004

Working with new grads I have learned there are some things generic to all in the beginning. Many of the above posts are great. Here is my 2 cents worth:

You will not come out of school knowing it all. In fact, you will continue to learn (I hope!) for the rest of your career. So do not beat yourself up about not knowing what other people know. You know things they don't.

Organize yourself at the beginning of the shift. Very important.

There is a difference between being smart and being a smart aleck.

The grass is not greener on the other side. Sometimes new grads believe their first year struggles are due to the unit to which they are assigned, so they transfer or leave. Guess what, the same problems exist elsewhere, or there are different sets of issues. On the other hand, life is too short to be miserable. So be patient, but not a doormat.

Pat yourself on the back occasionally. If you care enough to be concerned about how "good" a nurse you are, then you are probably good enough. Caring is what it is all about. Caring for others and for yourself.

Haunted · Nov 18, 2004

post it notes come in handy.

wjf00 · Nov 19, 2004

Familiarize yourself with this statement. "No I will NOT accept that assigment, it is unsafe". Say it and mean it and be prepared but not afraid, to be disciplined for it.

JennInColumbus · Nov 20, 2004

1. Passing the boards is a license to learn what you need to know, not a certificate that means you have learned everything you need to know.

2. Remember "this too shall pass"

3. Your grades do not always represent the type of nurse you will be because they don't always accurately measure your ability to care for others.

4. Do your schoolwork first, and everything else second. (I always underestimate the time necessary for school work if I plan to do it second or third or fourth)

5. Nursing school should be fun. Doing well and and having a great time are not mutually exclusive.

6. Good friends are incredibly valuable. You should make some lifelong friends in nursing school if you make an effort.

7. Help your fellow students and they will help you when you are in need.

8. Take care of your patient with "how would I do this if it was my mom/dad/grandparent" in the bed.

9. Here's a biggie... don't anticipate the clients reaction. I once had a pt who was having a BKA the next day and I expected to find a depressed and anxious pt. Nope, she was thrilled! An end to the pain and a prosthesis that was much more useful sounded great to her!

10. Be honest. A C you earned will make you feel a lot better than an A you didn't.

11. Listen.

12. Never make people wait for pain meds when it isn't absolutely necessary.

13. Take the learning seriously, yourself, not so much. :)

14. Be proud to be a nurse, it is a noble and honorable profession.

Most important:

15. When you see behavior that infuriates you, embarasses you, makes you wonder if a nurse got her license at Kmart, horrifies you or makes you cringe, don't go home and forget it!!! Mentally file it away under the heading "the nurse I don't want to be" and refer to it often.

16. You will often hear the phrase "nurses eat their own" and from time to time you will feel that way in school. Again, file this away and remember to be a nurse who "nurtures their own" as a student and as a practicing nurse.

Hope this helps.

Jenn, SN ooooh that rhymes!