Transition from student to staff nurse

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone.I am a newly qualified still waiting to get my first job.

What are the challenges you feel are from student nurse to being a qualified nurse? And how you resolved these challenges.

Thank you,

sam.

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Specializes in SICU, EMS, Home Health, School Nursing.

Its hard going from being a student to being a real nurse. I remember the first time I started an IV by myself, I felt like I was doing something bad because before that I had never been allowed to do things without my instructor. My biggest piece of advice is never stop being a student! Ask lots of questions and always be willing and ready to learn. Some of the biggest challenges for me were (and still are) time management, and knowing when to call the doctor. I also know a lot of new RNs that have trouble with critical thinking skills. One thing that has helped me tons is the other nurses!! I am constantly going to the other nurses just to run things past them, and they do the same to me. Never do something that you are unsure of! Never give a med unless you know what it is!

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Its hard going from being a student to being a real nurse. I remember the first time I started an IV by myself, I felt like I was doing something bad because before that I had never been allowed to do things without my instructor. My biggest piece of advice is never stop being a student! Ask lots of questions and always be willing and ready to learn. Some of the biggest challenges for me were (and still are) time management, and knowing when to call the doctor. I also know a lot of new RNs that have trouble with critical thinking skills. One thing that has helped me tons is the other nurses!! I am constantly going to the other nurses just to run things past them, and they do the same to me. Never do something that you are unsure of! Never give a med unless you know what it is!

ALL NURSES, regardless of the program one graduated from, would benefit from a one year paid internship. Nurses have to brain dump, the attitude, that we all need to "hit the ground runnning", the day after graduation. This attitude is greatly exacerbating the exodus of new grads from bedside nursing 1-2 years after graduation. After "sticker shock" had set in.

PTs, OTs, Pharmacists, all have an internship after graduation to smooth the transition from student to pracititioner. And lets not forget doctors.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.
ALL NURSES, regardless of the program one graduated from, would benefit from a one year paid internship. Nurses have to brain dump, the attitude, that we all need to "hit the ground runnning", the day after graduation. This attitude is greatly exacerbating the exodus of new grads from bedside nursing 1-2 years after graduation. After "sticker shock" had set in.

PTs, OTs, Pharmacists, all have an internship after graduation to smooth the transition from student to pracititioner. And lets not forget doctors.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

I'm really glad I am going to be getting just that--a 12 month internship in the ICU.

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Thanks guys for taking an interest in this thread.Loved reading your responses.

hope I can carry out the role of a newly qualified nurse soon. I have an interview next week.Wish me good luck.

Thanks to all,

Sam.

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ALL NURSES, regardless of the program one graduated from, would benefit from a one year paid internship. Nurses have to brain dump, the attitude, that we all need to "hit the ground runnning", the day after graduation. This attitude is greatly exacerbating the exodus of new grads from bedside nursing 1-2 years after graduation. After "sticker shock" had set in.

PTs, OTs, Pharmacists, all have an internship after graduation to smooth the transition from student to pracititioner. And lets not forget doctors.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

This is outmoded thinking left over from the days when students used to run the floors. That hasn't been done for decades. Why the expectation persists that new nurses should be ready to be independent after a few short weeks or orientation escapes me. We make advances in so many areas of medicine and nursing practice, yet this dangerous and harmful mentality continues.

To me, it's just a sign of how little nurses are valued. If the new ones crash and burn, not to worry...more newbies are just around the corner.

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