10 Tips for New Nurses

10 Tips for New Nurses Becoming a nurse can be one of the most exciting times in your life. All of the hours of study and work have finally paid off. Without a lot of experience working as a nurse, your best alternative for a job when you are a recent graduate is to work in a hospital. Working in a hospital will allow you to obtain great experience, and enable you to decide which area of nursing you prefer to work in. Remember to be patient, and remember you are still somewhat in a learning process. The following tips may help you start off on the right foot.

Working with a Mentor With everything you’d learned in school, you may feel ready to take on the entire medical world. However, practicing and having a nursing instructor right there assisting you is very different than actually performing a procedure. It's okay to admit you are new, and can use a little help until you have become acclimated to your working environment. Inquire if the medical center has a mentoring program for new nurses, which many do. If there is one offered, it would be very beneficial to participate. If in fact they do not have an official mentoring program, it may be possible to ask an experienced nurse to mentor you on a volunteer basis.

Related: Complaints Every Nurse Has on the Job Regardless of a mentoring program being offered, you will be shadowing an experienced nurse until you are comfortable in your new position. Be certain to pay very close attention to all of the instructions, advice and tips that your instructor provides you with. Do not hesitate to ask questions regarding anything that you do not understand. Your instructor was once new also, and they will understand that it’s very different in a hospital then in a classroom. They are there to answer all of your questions, and for you to discuss concerns that you may have. Take full advantage of the time with your instructor, it's much easier to ask questions as you are learning then to go back and ask when you are on your own. Be appreciative to your mentor/instructor, their experience can be a valuable commodity to you.

Expect the Unexpected One thing you will learn in a short amount of time on the job is, you never know what you may encounter when dealing with a patient. You will need to cover the look of surprise, and replace it with, “I’m your nurse and I am a professional, regardless of what is wrong”. Some of the things that you will hear and encounter will be strange beyond your level of comfort. Pica is a

condition in which a person eats inedible objects. Example: you may have a Pica patient that has undergone surgery to remove an object from their intestines. There will most likely be instructions that accompany the patient, on items that can be in the room, and what must be removed. You may have never encountered a patient with Pica, and it may seem very unusual to you, however, as a professional nurse, it is your job to be non judgmental, and to care for the patient to the best of your ability. Treat the patient in the same manner you would any other patient. Just always be prepared to encounter patients and situations that may be new to you.

Keep an open mind and remember, you are the patient’s nurse, and you should always maintain a professional demeanor.

Continue Learning Just because you have completed your education requirements should never mean that you are finished learning. You will want to broaden your range of opportunities, and sign up for any seminars, conferences, or trainings that will provide instruction on anything new relating to your field of nursing.

Check with the human resource manager to see where training opportunities are posted so that you avail yourself to them. The more knowledge and experience you have, the better your nursing credentials are. Always take advantage of any special classes that the hospital may offer, not only will you learn something new, but it will show your supervisor that you have the initiative to continue learning.

Constructive Criticism As a nurse just starting out, there is a significant learning curve, and you will make some errors along the way, it's part of the learning process.

Experienced nurses may critique your efforts; physicians may indicate you are not doing things the way they prefer, which is all part of being a new employee. Constructive criticism should actually be referred to as direction in this case, as that is what you are being provided. Because a hospital can be very busy and hectic, sometimes pointing out a better way to accomplish a procedure may come across a little abrupt. Many of the experienced nurses may have been in their positions for a number of years, and educating new nurses may be very routine to them, the delivery of their directions may seem somewhat harsh. Try not to take instructions or the advice of more experienced nurses too personally. Keep in mind, that nurse providing the training, was once in the same position that you are now.

Every job has to be learned, and nursing is no different, be patient, accept advice, and learn from your mistakes.

Ask For Assistance A very common mistake that many new nurses make is that they hesitate to ask for assistance when needed. There is nothing wrong with asking for help, or saying that you have not yet done a particular procedure and need some guidance. If you are unsure, don’t take a chance; ask for assistance, a patient's well being may depend on it.

Appropriate Attire Scrubs are the usual dress for nurses, however you will be instructed when hired what uniform is required. If you supply your own uniform, make sure it is a good fit. Tops should be well fitting, but not too snug, and pants should not be too long, they should be just to the top of the shoe. Be sure to select scrubs that have pockets, the more the better, pockets can be very beneficial in the nursing profession. Avoid jewelry such as large earrings or necklaces; they can actually be hazardous in your profession. Wear supportive and comfortable shoes, be sure it’s a snug fit but not too tight.

Related: What are the common reasons for Hospitalization in the US? Maintain Personal Boundaries You probably had some training in school regarding personal boundaries; however it's difficult to understand dealing with them until you experience it firsthand. Maintain a proper level of professionalism with your patients. Do not share personal information, and keep conversations on a professional, yet compassionate level.

Request Feedback Don’t hesitate to ask your supervisor how they feel you are doing. Ask if there are any suggestions or ideas that might help you improve in areas that need improvement. Take any suggestions and advice offered and work to continue learning and improving.

Sign up for Seminars or Trainings Watch for postings of available nurse trainings, or seminars and sign up for them whenever possible. The more information you obtain, the better off you are in your job. Attending trainings and seminars also show a strong initiative and you desire to succeed as a great nurse.

Don’t be too hard on yourself Be prepared to make some mistakes along your way of learning. Admit your mistakes, and then move on. Its often difficult to forgive yourself, but in order to succeed, it is necessary to move along and try things that may be

new to you. There may be some mistakes along the way; it's all part of the learning process. Be patient with yourself, and turn every mistake and mishap into a lesson, and you can accept that you have successfully learned your lesson.

Becoming a nurse is exciting and full of opportunities. The first year is the most difficult, however taking your time with the patients, and asking for assistance when needed will ensure success. Accept that first year of employment as a continuation of your education, and embrace the learning, with each new thing you learn, you are becoming a better nurse. Get to know your coworkers, and exchange tips and ideas, different ways of doing a procedure may be just the answer you are looking for. Be sure to have a way of relieving stress at the end of a shift. Exercise, yoga, or even venting with a partner or friend can help bring closure to a hectic day. The first year of nursing can be difficult, and trying at times, however you have worked to complete your education, and earned your license, so you are well on your way to being a great and experienced nurse. at some point you may be asked to train a new nurse, and you will have the opportunity to reflect back on what it's like to be new to the nursing profession. Nursing is a career to be proud of, and once you have completed the learning process you will be well on your way to a successful career.

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