Tips for nurses in their first year of nursing

[Brian]

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.

[margo2007]

In my last semester of clinical my instructor did what your first instructor did. Every morning I had what we call "The case of the (instructor's name)". She was by far the worst instructor I've have ever had. Her method of teaching never build you up. I am so glad to be away from that woman. I pray to have to a good preceptor!

[labrador4122, RN]

I have a friend who is starting to work at the same hospital where I work.

I don't know much, but little things that I have learned I tell her so she is aware and perhaps she might learn something and not make the same mistakes that I made.

I know I did not learn everything that I needed to learn during my 6 weeks of floor orientation, so I am always learning.

But there are a few tips that I wish I would of known.

example:

pregnancy test= standard for all females who started their period regardless age

If there is an incident that happened to your patient= write in your nurses notes about the incident... did the patient fall?what were the circumstances?, tell the charge nurse, and fill out an incident report.

always check MARS at the end of shift to avoid ommitting any meds

would you all please share your tips with us newbies?!

thank you in advance!

[eponinemonet]

Lots of excellent advice. I graduate in May and I start as a Nurse Resident on a Cardiac step-down unit soon after. Even though I've been doing my clinicals there all this semester it scares me to death! Luckily I have been working with a nurse on that floor that knows I'll be working there soon. He gives me 3 patients every week and says,"There you go-you're their nurse today." He watches me from a distance and makes sure I'm doing things right and he steps in when needed. That has helped some of my anxiety. I'm wondering how long it's going to take me to really feel like I know what i'm doing. I'm really scared of dealing with some of the Dr.s. There are some that are notorious for being really mean to the nurses and CNAs. How do you handle them?

[txhorseshowgirl]

Ever have an "I wish I was told this" moment? Well, we all do as nurses regarding school. Here are some things I wish they told me nursing school (and some I wish they had emphasized more)----and what I told another new BSN nurse in a different thread (and it would be the same advice I would give any new nurse/grad):

You have achieved a great thing, graduating and earning your degree (BSN, ADN , LPN or Diploma). Now, the REAL learning begins......

Don't ever pretend to know what you don't. Be a sponge---watch and listen to what is going on around you. Take mental notes. Find mentors and emulate their good habits. Take note of the bad habits and avoid those.

Listen to your patients; they know their bodies better than you do.

Have integrity----be honest with yourself and others.

Stay out of the gossip game/circle. It goes nowhere and brings down morale, including your own.

Be on time! EVERYtime. When you are late, so am I. And I don't like to be late!

Stay organized as possible. Keep up on your charting and tasks as they come up. Dont' save it all for "later"---there may not be time, "later".

Do it right the first time, even if there IS "no time". Believe me, there is no time to "Do it over", either.

Plan for the worst; hope for the best.

Be someone they can rely on---and rely on yourself!

Take good care of yourself; eat well, exercise. It's the only body you got and you are gonna need it. Nurture the self. Nurses have a tendency to martyr themselves and neglect their own needs. Don't be one of them; it's a fast superhighway to burn-out.

Nourish the mind. Plan on spending a LOT of time investing in your continuing education as a nurse. The world of nursing/medicine is changing faster everyday. You are going to have to make a conscious and concerted effort to "stay abreast". It's more work than you imagine right now.....plan on it.

Learn assertiveness if you have not already. Lots of good books and conferences/seminars exist. Learn early-on you no are NO ONE's doormat. Also, know there is a difference between "assertion" and "aggression".

Work hard, yes, but don't forget to PLAY hard too! Have hobbies you enjoy. Your life is NOT your work, and while being a nurse is part of who you are, it need not *define* you.

Believe in your self and good instincts. Sometimes, "instinct" is what lets us know something is amiss or wrong with our patients. Never ignore that gut instinct. It's very often right! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!!!!

After 8 years in nursing, these things are things I have learned the "hard way"; hopefully you don't have to.

Warm, hearty congratulations to you and all new grads here. I wish you all good things in your new careers.

Thanks for the post- this coming from someone working towards my BSN- I am about 8months from applying to a nursing school- Im still currently completing all my pre classes for my bsn.. Im nervous yet excited to actually start nursing, school . I just wish I would have done this at 20 instead of 29!!

Steph

[zworks1225]

I am one of those new nurses and I have a word of wisdom to share that one of the experienced guru nurses I work with told me. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with my lack of knowledge one day and she told me that when she was in nursing school they were told that they were not being taught to become a nurse - they were being taught how to LEARN to become a nurse - and the learning would continue as long as they chose to learn it.

This has changed the way I look at my inexperience a lot.

[triathlete-girl, BSN, RN]

Hi all,

I'm a new gradute nurse and I think the best thing that I have learnt over my first 5 months as a registered nurse is to learn how to write and religously update my SHIFT PLANNER. My shift planner is definately something I could not do without on my shifts because I create a timetable and task outline for myself which encompasses the entire 8hrs and I always remember to update my shift planner with any information about my patients' status or tasks that I have undertaken. It makes note writing incredibly EASY!

Remember TIME MANAGEMENT, TIME MANAGEMENT, TIME MANAGEMENT!

[jeason]

I can never be told too many times that I don't know everything, but be confident in what you do know. Great advice, I will always remember. . .

[nursegottabe]

Hi everyone, I am still in nursing school. I am an LPN going through a transition to become an RN. I'm so glad we don't have to be totally on top of everything we have learned and I am glad it is still a learning process we we do get in the real world of nursing. I haven't started practicing being a nurse yet but I have been a medical assistant in the past. I'm supposed to graduate may of next year.

[kyramarie]

I am currently a nursing student i hope to learn a great deal in the years ahead of me, thanks for the advice...i think i'm in "sponge" mode...:)

[NEWNURSIE]

Hello, everyone

i am a new grad and i work in a LTC with 42 residents for five months now. I feel that all that i do is givng out medication which is fine but i feel as if i should be learning more but i am not, i get really frustrated because when i ask my head nurse a question i get "i don't know" the thing is i am not asking her to hold my hands or to babysit me, i don't think i should have to leave the unit and go ask someone else in another unit to get an answer if it is your floor. i am crazy? any advice?

[kelkel68]

Great advice....thanks so much. I especially want to work on assertiveness and the not feeling guilty when saying no. I feel like printing it out and putting it on my mirror to read every morning!

Kelly:grad:

[rc11201]

Do not pretend you know something if you dont!! Speak up and ask questions. Find someone on your unit you can count on to help you. Someone who likes to mentor new grads. Not all nurses do. Do not take things too personally. Remember the best part about starting a nursing career is you can always move/transfer to another specialty/unit until you find a good fit. You are going to make mistakes! It takes time to develope critical thinking skills. Prioritize and delegate,delegate,delegate. If you are working with a nurse assistant use them! If you are getting frustrated with your assignment or generally feel like you are in over your head, tell the charge nurse! Get help! You are not alone. Dont assume other nurses know what you are going through. We are not mind readers. You must speak up and stand up for yourself. It will get easier, in about 2 more years, your babies! Good Luck! LOL! Come to LA>:chuckle