Tips for nurses in their first year of nursing

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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.

I know some people learn either by fear of failure or by craving for excellence. What advice will be given to someone who is more pre-occupied with the fear of failure?.

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.
I know some people learn either by fear of failure or by craving for excellence. What advice will be given to someone who is more pre-occupied with the fear of failure?.

I would suggest taking your time with skills/pt care. Definitely take your time while being conscious of time limits, but if you need assistance go to your staff educator/developer and see what they suggest. I think we all have a fear of failure, but in time that will go away. I fear things every day when i go to pass meds, IVs, dressing changes, writing orders, checking labs/results, etc., but I have been reassured by my superiors that that feeling will go away.

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Specializes in surgical,urology, ENT.

Hey there,

We all makes mistakes. Small ones, big ones...I had my fair share of failures and mistakes also. The best way to conquer it, is by firstly to know your unit's protocols and policies well. If in doubt, always refer back to the your preceptor, or the nurse clinician on the same shift with you. Remember to listen, ask and find out, you'll do good, ok. And if you did a mistake, own up to it, take responsibility to your actions. Don't fret, what is past is past, all we can do is to learn from it and prevent the same mistakes from happening.

Take care.

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I just graduated and have just started as a pedi er nurse.....

Any tips will help and I am looking for good pocket book resources

Thanks

Pam

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Wow, that is some great advice smilingblueyes! I'm still a student and it just seems like I will never be aggressive due to my lack of confidence in this field. Patients respond well to confident nurses who let them know the rules and what needs to be done for the day. I guess it is something that will take time for me to learn.

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Specializes in Medsurg.

yay, I learn alot from you'all. Learning to admit when I am wrong is a great thing, but I will say it is just something I am learning in Nursing school. I never want to be wrong, but the learning process in nursing made me know when I am wrong, how I am wrong, and the worst of it, how bad I am wrong.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

I've been a RN for about 7 weeks now, and after learning the routine...offer my own personal suggestions....

1. I agree with a previous poster about going to check all your patients after report...We have some patients who get 1800 meds....I go check everyone's pulse ox(I work ortho/neuro/surgery floor), and check their pain or concerns....after that, I go back through and assess everyone, starting with those who have 1800 meds. After that, if I have someone who still needs to be admitted, I go do that....then, I'll go back through and give my 2000 meds.

All while being interrupted by docs, or calls, etc.....otherwise, I can usually sit down and chart on 1-2 patients(normal load is 6-8)...then go back around, go chart, reround, take a break, and finish charting.

See people right away, before you get bogged down in one particular room....

2. Never be afraid to ask questions....if you don't know what to do, ask.

3. Docs are people too, they might think you're stupid when you ask something, but I don't care...we're both there for the patients. don't be afraid to call em at 3AM if you need em.

4. Be confident in your abilities...you went to school..you know what you're doing!

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Specializes in Medsurg.
Learn to admit when you have made a mistake, it can get ugly down the road.

Always, Always ask questions.

Thanks, that was short, direct and true statement. As a student nurse, mistakes are very likely and sometimes we get tempted to cover it. Asking questions is very important in the learning process.

I also learned as a student nurse not to correct nurses who are already in the field. it is not the best thing, but it is better that way, because most nurses take it like a challenge when a student nurse tell them how something is to be done. always know what is the correct procedure and copy just the best.

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the tips and advice here are great! i am a new nurse and i feel as if i am walking backwards most of the time. being a new nurse is scary some days. where did my confidence go. i understand why experienced nurses have told me that it will take about a year to put it all together. looking foward to next may. :banghead:

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I Am So Excited To Become An Rn And Thank You For The Future Advice

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I appreciate all the advice given! This site has been wonderful and just the type of advice I needed. Last wk was my 1st wk as a nurse on a med/surg floor and I was totally overwhelmed, so much stuff we didn't even COVER in school, I was starting to think maybe nursing was a mistake and how can I ever learn to be as proficient as the nurses I was working with. So I'm glad to hear that being overwhelmed is normal. :bugeyes:

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Always ask questions, there is no dumb question in nursing because some one's life might depend on the anwser. Don't be afraid to get get your "gloves dirty" and be willing to learn. Take your time when caring for clients, but be organized. As you gain exp, organization is the key to multi tasking.

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