Tips for nurses in their first year of nursing

Nurses New Nurse

Published

Please share any tips you might have for our new nurses. Hopefully, this will become a great resource of nursing tips from all of our experienced nurses from around the globe.

Specializes in Did the job hop, now in MS. Not Bad!!!!!.
How on earth did you go through nursing school without giving many baths???????????? My only advice is to 1) do your baths when you do your assessment (you really get to see skin this way, plus turn and listen to lungs!), or 2) save it for when you have a code brown.

Now now Rae, I also didn't do many baths in clinicals. But this is b/c I was put in the RN student role of passing meds, assessments, and charting. It was all also location-dependent.

I had to wait til the summer between junior and senior years to do my externship and even then I only got to do them when I asked if I could work alongside a PCT so I could maintain my skills. My RN preceptor had a velcro butt. She never left her chair. The PCT's taught me more that summer than anyone. I also learned invaluable techniques to the whole bath thing. And it was quite a challenge as my externship was on an ABI/SCI floor!!! :pumpiron:

I recommend it as a way to learn the tasks every nurse should know. In addition, it's humbling b/c you do get your hands dirty and I would never want to be a velcro-butt nurse.

I would never ask my PCT to do something I wouldn't do. Don't ever forget where you came from or what it took to get you there.

Chloe, RN-BSN, BA

:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in BScN.

I'm in my first Year of BSN...I find it the most challenging thing I've ever done. There is alot of reading, I have learned so far from advice and experience.

-Find a group of people you can rely on and split the readings as well as photocopy notes you make for the readinds and hand them out to each other.

-Find a 3rd or 4th year student to exchange e-mails with for advice and an uplifter for when you feel like giving up.

-Take care of yourself first, or you can not be successful

It's all been helping me, so I thought I'd pass it on.

Good Luck to all my fellow first years

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey everyone, I will be going through a difficult journey which I really enjoy. I just passed my boards and I just have a quick question. I know that when I go to a certain department, I myself will be given patients to care for. I used to think that i'm alone in this situation, but after thinking it through, I think that its still a team effort and that you can rely on another RN right beside you. Instead of using "I", I think that "WE" is a better word (even though we will be having our own patients). I don't know if this is a mature way of looking at it or if it's just my sillyness?

I'm going to enter the field of nursing as an undergraduate and I will be needing a lot of help (LOTS). All I have going for me is the knowledge that I took in nursing school, which sometimes can be just black or white and no gray areas in between. I'm really hoping for a good team environment when i start working.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks to all of you who were so kind to give this valuable information to the new comers of nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Dear everyone..

I am full of questions...First..I am in my last year of BSN at a school in upstate NY I am done in May 08....I am strongly considering moving to NYC for at least 2 years after school to work at NYU Medical Center (if I get hired)..I have heard great things about that hospital. I do not want to stay around here mainly because I need change, small towns are not for me, hospitals are not that technologically advanced and the start pay is around 22-24 + shift different. So my questions are..what is the start pay for grad nurses, will they hire me before I pass the NCLEX, will they even consider hiring me before I move, I Know the cost of living is high, but what are my chances for find a room (just a bed, bathroom and a microwave) for around 500-600 a month in one of the burrouhgs..will this be too much change? I truly look forward to your replies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in BScN.

After first year, in Canada you can apply as a PSW which is good for the experience aspect of it. Pay all depends on where you work and if you are in union or not. You can always research everything. Up here the BScN with the degree) is 4 years..wow, what a difference.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks I wish I would have read these posts a few months ago before I started my first job but alot of it still applies after 3 months! and I have some work to do with treating myself and being assertive not letting people make me feel bad and realizing I can not please evryone. Its been a really rough 3 months thanks!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

great infomation hope to start a a career in nursing myself when i get back to england as have read alot and is all good fun by the sounds of it and have had the experience jej with a nurse so it has brought it out in me, so looking forward to begin have many plans for the future and hope all goes well just a couple of mth now and ill be on myway starting my 1st year in nursing as a student, allso working in the hospitals auxilary from time to time looking forword to hearing from others on the site take it easy now thanks alot aaron

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Ok I'm about to start my night shifts here in New York as an ICU nurse. And i'm wondering how to lose weight (that i gained in school) and be up long hours?

I'm 52 yrs old and I'm about to join a local gym. But avoiding the extra food when I'm up the extra hours is going to be difficult......

Any tips on what to do that can help? Any tips on how to adjust to the night shift?

Thanks in advance........

Bryan RN, BSN

I am a brand new LPN, I have only worked 11 shifts in the hospital that I work at.. All I can say is most of the shifts I have worked have been nights, and I have lost a little bit of weight since I started with out trying. I never knew just how hard night shifts are on the body...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Please share any tips you might have for our new nurses. Hopefully, this will become a great resource of nursing tips from all of our experienced nurses from around the globe.

Think....always brain storm.....:idea:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thanks for all the advice people..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in basic.

This is my first time and day of being in this site and I really enjoy every little bit of it and also it is very educative and goal directed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment