Tips for nurses in their first year of nursing

Brightside1 · Sep 25, 2008

Earle58, that really spoke to me! Great advice...ALL of it!

rosemarysz · Oct 14, 2008

thanks :redpinkhe

nursegottabe · Oct 15, 2008

Wow, I have spoken to some nurses about working after going to school. They don't teach you everything. This nurse had told me that you don't have to know every little detail right then and there. You will be learning things all along. I was breathing a sigh of relief b/c I don't recall all of this disorders and S/S of everything I've studied. After battling cancer and having chemo three separate times I am worried about my memory capacity. Thank God for Ginko Biloba. I believe in it.

SparkytheRN · Oct 16, 2008

I'm a new grad RN. I thought graduating from an accelerated RN program was hard enough:banghead:. Now, my anxiety lies in getting a job as a new RN and practice "nursing" for the first time:eek:. But thanks for all the wonderful tips, experienced nurses continue to SHARE YOUR WISDOM!!

bluecatfarm · Oct 16, 2008

Thank everyone for your encouraging words.

I'm in my 9th week of orientation in a trauma ward at a commumity hospital in a big city. As another poster wrote, I feel like I'm working backward. At the end of the day my brain is like scrambled eggs. I never felt so retarded, incompetent, and insecure. I used to be smart. Now, I'm "too slow", have "safety concerns", "don't focus"... Yikes!.

I come to this site for comfort to find I'm in good company and what I am experiencing is quite normal. Great tips too! I think I may actually make it!

Sheila1214 · Oct 16, 2008

Thanks for all the good information. I'm just gettin in this business and i like to hear what not to do!! LOL

land27 · Oct 17, 2008

10 tips for the new grad:

1. Work in a teaching hospital and ask a lot of questions that start with "why" or "can you explain....".

2. Get 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th opinions if your just not sure.

3. Respect experianced nurses from other areas/specialties.....they are in specialty areas because they are especially trained for that specialty job and will likely be able to teach you something special if you care to listen.

4. Continue to look up meds that are not familiar. Doctors make mistakes, our job is to catch them.

5. Be good to your nurse assistants and unit clerks, and they will be good and to you. Saying thanks and please means a lot. Good rule of thumb....Never ask a nurse assistant to doing something that you are not willing to do yourself, or atleast help with doing.

6. Take the time to talk to your patients....I can gather more assessment data in a two minute conversation with a patient than I would if I did a full body systems assessment in silence....A good time to talk is while your doing you initial assessment.

7. Be proactive....not reactive....the nurse who saves more lives is the one that rarely needs to call a code blue....

8. We all make mistakes....the best way to corrrect them is to report them....A nurse doesn't usually recieve corrective action for making a mistake. However you may well be terminated for making one and not reporting it.

9. Be your patients advocate - you may well be the only one they have.

10. Last but not least...... there will come a day that your on the elevator, about to start work, and realize your not sick to your stomach. That's a good day and a good feeling.

emetcal1 · Oct 17, 2008

That was great! I know I will have that sick feeling like I always did in clinicals, but I will keep striving to get to the day that I will feel good...and by good I mean great!

akosiba · Oct 20, 2008

never give up if you fail your first exams

boobearsmom28 · Oct 23, 2008

10 tips for the new grad:
1. work in a teaching hospital and ask a lot of questions that start with "why" or "can you explain....".
2. get 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th opinions if your just not sure.
3. respect experianced nurses from other areas/specialties.....they are in specialty areas because they are especially trained for that specialty job and will likely be able to teach you something special if you care to listen.
4. continue to look up meds that are not familiar. doctors make mistakes, our job is to catch them.
5. be good to your nurse assistants and unit clerks, and they will be good and to you. saying thanks and please means a lot. good rule of thumb....never ask a nurse assistant to doing something that you are not willing to do yourself, or atleast help with doing.
6. take the time to talk to your patients....i can gather more assessment data in a two minute conversation with a patient than i would if i did a full body systems assessment in silence....a good time to talk is while your doing you initial assessment.
7. be proactive....not reactive....the nurse who saves more lives is the one that rarely needs to call a code blue....
8. we all make mistakes....the best way to corrrect them is to report them....a nurse doesn't usually recieve corrective action for making a mistake. however you may well be terminated for making one and not reporting it.
9. be your patients advocate - you may well be the only one they have.
10. last but not least...... there will come a day that your on the elevator, about to start work, and realize your not sick to your stomach. that's a good day and a good feeling.

i sure hope that i get there some day. i am a new nurse and i seem to question everyday if i will ever feel comfortable at all! all of this information has been very encouraging.

BertinaRN, ASN, RN · Oct 25, 2008

Some helpful tips I have learned just in the last 3 months

Read the H&P on your pt, learn why they are there and their past medical

Know their labs, xray results, UA results, ct results etc. before you call the MD

Know their allergies,your MD may not have that information available when you call them and ask your pt what medications they have taken before that worked, some pt come back over and over for the same problems, get to know what works so you can recommend.

Don't take it personal if an MD starts yelling, swallow, and continue, you are your pt voice, and besides I heard that Verbal abuse form a doctor is soon to be a sentinel event through JCHAO, which will include how they speak to us, along with their pt.:)

If your pt does not remember their meds/dosages find out what pharmacy they go to, the pharmacy is usually very helpful , have their personal information ready.

Just adding to the knowledge base, hope someone benefits.

Have a great day,

Bertina R.N.

hersheykiss06 · Oct 25, 2008

in choosing your first job, consider:
1. orientation progtram for the new RN. a strong orientation and preceptorship will be what makes or breaks your 1st job experience, and possibly, even your career in nsg.
2. policies on continuing ed, including tuition assistance/reimbursement. this policy will also help you understand the employer's views on continuing ed.
3. work environment & attitudes of potential co-workers. what is your 1st impression of the unit during a walk-through?
4. nurse-to-patient rations, patient acuity, size of unit, mgmt. structure, staffing mix (rns relative to lpsn and nsg assts), availability of ancillary staff (housekeeping, dietary, unit secretary, maintenance, etc)
5. availability of mds (esp after hrs), autonomy vs.responsiblity of RNs,type of nsg care delivered (team, primary, etc)
6. type of work scheduling (weekend programs, M-F, 8-10-12 hr shifts, floating, overtime policy, weekend requirements, holiday requirements)
7. opportunity for advancement?
8. salary including shift differentials and cost of living increases.
9. benefits including vacation time,sick time, childcare, staff health services, parking, cafeteria.
tips for survival:
- think before answering
- take vacations
- remove energy drainers
- support co-workers
- treat yourself
- avoid aggravating people
- keep in touch w/yourself and your needs
- say no w/o guilt
- ask for help
- use available resources
- evaluate your growth and stay focused.
- re-energize
we are not superhuman- lest we not forget that. and we are no one's doormat. love yourself enough to avoid ANYONE treating you badly.
strive to treat each patient as you would yourself or a family member.
and take a deep breath.
peacefully,
leslie

Leslie

Help! Hello; I am a 40 yo new grad with 14 years' as a CST but also a few years as a Pharmacy Tech, and monitor tech

I was recently offered a fellowship at a magnet teaching hospital; it was the only place that made my heart beat faster when I actually thought of working there. The pay is excellent, even though I have to pay for parking. I will work two 12's and two 8's (D/N) for a year, plus classroom; In a year I should be a certified onc. nurse. Everyone there was super-the NM has been there for 30 years. The DON was awesome, and to my great surprise they offered on the spot. Awesome, bright, clean and very positive atsmophere. Great preceptor porgram, sign on bonus, CE support. The drawback is that they are at leasr 1h 20m, if traffic isn't worse than normal; I have three teen sons, one with some learning issues, and one who has been diagnosed with cortical fibrous defect, who also wrestles and will be in AP and honors classes this fall; my youngest will be walking 30minutes to and from middle school by himself(likely with a friend, though)-Is oncology a bad/good place for a new grad to start? No family near by to help, and dh can't be counted on to help-and he is also always at least 1-2.5 hours away.

I have gotten another offer from the hospital where I used to work for an ICU internship; it pays less but they offer $8/hour for night differential, no sign on bonus, and I don't have to pay to park. It the same old same old there-at least I'd know some of the negative/gossip hounds to avoid. They are also about 30/40minutes from here, even less in off hours. I'd work three 12's D/N-This place has a mediocre rep-they lost accreditation about 4 years ago (they got it back quickly, though); they are trying to turn it around -My interview was a debacle, because the HR person forgot what time she told me to come, and I waited

1 h 35min before anyone interviewed me;the head nurse couldn't make it, and the education dir had to wing it- but I was impressed by the education director for the ICU-she's really trying to make some positive changes,was very positive and had great organization and I did kind of like the thought of the wide variety of patients/experience I'd get-good for a new grad....

The first place is my dream job (I think), the second place makes more sense as a working mom, and prolly would be more likely to work-The money is about the same, I just don't want to take the "dream" job farther away and and find out that it just doesn't work with my family etc etc; but neither do I want to take the closer job and feel like I missed a great opportunity-I am really confused....

So , what do you think?

I think you should do what is best for you and your kids,but whatever you do make sure it will make you happy and comfortable.:nuke: