What will your 1st year of nursing be like? Has school fully prepared you for everything? What do you need to know to have a great 1st year of practice? Here's some quick info on what you can expect and advice on how to make your transition from nursing school to bedside practice successful.
Get ready! You're about to embark on an amazing journey! Your first year as a nurse, especially on the floor, will teach you so much about teamwork, endurance, time-management and compassion.
I've been a pediatric nurse for 6 years now and it's taught me a lot about myself, but I'll never forget my 1st year! The tears, late shifts and missed lunch breaks showed me that the transition from school to practice is a whole new ball game.
So, what advice would I give you? I can't go too in depth, but I will sum it up with the following:
Be Teachable
The more willing you are to learn, the more your seasoned nurses will teach you.
Be Confident
Patients can spot newbies. But your confidence will set their minds at ease. Don't be skittish, especially about new skills. I remember when I set a goal to become better at starting IV's and I asked a veteran nurse how to go about it. She looked at me and said very simply, "keep sticking". I say the same to you. To become proficient, keep at the skill.
Have a Vent Place
A lot of times, my friends and I would go into the med room and let off steam. When things get hectic, find a spot to take some deep breaths and regroup. Speaking of hectic, if you're having a quiet shift, DO NOT say it aloud. You'll increase your chances of it staying quiet.
Show respect for your patients' doctors, even if you are questioning a decision
I know it might sound a bit trite, but I've seen patient care hindered by strained nurse/doctor relationships. Your role will be to advocate for your patients, but you'll have to learn effective, respectful advocacy.
Ask for Help!
As the new nurse, you might be eager to prove yourself to your peers. How quickly things can get crazy! Don't drown in silence. If you are so busy to the point that patient care is suffering, let someone know. Don't worry about looking needy to your peers. You'll learn to fly on your own soon enough.
What can you really expect your first year? First off, expect to have to adjust to schedule requirements. The days of leaving mid-day when clinicals are done are over. Expect to work some holidays ( floor nurses), weekends and maybe some night shifts. Your sleep pattern and work-life balance will revolve around your new schedule. It may take some time to get used to if its new for you.
Second, expect more responsibility. The fact is, the nurse is at the center of patient care delivery. The buck frequently stops with us. It can be overwhelming for others to depend on you to have so much knowledge and skill. But it will get easier as you get more practice under your belt.
Third, expect to learn more about the vast field of nursing. When you're starting out and getting more skills under your belt, you will learn more about your niche and what you might like advance your practice in. So, I hope this info helps you! Have a great 1st year as a new nurse!
Hi, I am a new grad with my very first RN job. I'm on orientation now for 5 weeks and it is truly overwhelming. So much to do with so little time. Between, assessments and taking vitals, passing AM meds to 12 patients, wound care/dressing changes, accuchecks, pm meds, new orders, and charting all in an 8hr shift ! í ½í¸§... I'm definitely questioning myself about this career choice. as well as, i dont feel like i am using my critical thinking abilities because I'm so busy with these tasks. I'm very discouraged. Anyone have advice on how to carry out all tasks while still using critical thinking skills and maintaining my sanity?
Amandavalleen
3 Posts
You're welcome:) I'm glad it's helpful