Out with the Old, in with the New – Strategize Your New Routine Your routine will need some adjustment when you land that nursing job. Being a new nurse can be overwhelming. There is so much to do and know, you may fear that you won’t be able to keep up. Reminder Efficiently reminding yourself to do something can be done by attaching it to another a task. There are a few different ways to figure out what kind of reminder will work best for you. If you count solely on your memory, it may very well fail you. It can be difficult to live up to any expectations that you have, if you do not set up a system. For example, when you brush your teeth, the act could remind you to floss. By making things visible, such as putting flossers in a bowl next to your toothbrush, you are making a conscious effort to remember to floss. Related: Benefits to BSN Choosing your own reminder does not have to be complicated. Jot down two different lists of things you do, and things that happen each day without fail. Tasks can be as rudimentary as brushing your teeth, putting on your shoes, or a daily work task. Receiving an automated text message is another good reminder technique. When you drink your morning glass of juice, coffee, tea, or water, meditate for a few minutes. If you happen to check a certain patient each day, add something like, remembering to double check your double checked work. This can really help with creating a routine that works for you. Repetition and familiarity are key. Routine Make your habit something that you cannot say no to. In other words, something easy to start with. For example, start by flossing just one tooth. You will eventually grow accustomed to it, and may even build the desire to floss all of your teeth over time. Related: A Look into 2-year Nursing Degrees – Is it a Scam?
Reward In the end, rewarding yourself for the routines that you are creating is very important. If you remember anything about psychology, you will recall that conditioning is easier with a reward system. This does not always have to be a mundane or bad thing. Celebrating is not something to avoid. When you reach a goal, back it up with some positive thoughts. The little victories are just as needed as larger ones. Build important habits to get you through your busy day. You might want to mix it up a little bit when figuring out what to do with your new routine. Having said routine will help you be the most efficient that you can possibly be. Pacing yourself is a good idea. Start with small goals and increase them as you proceed. Nursing can be complicated when it comes to routines. Take your time to figure out what works for you. This is probably even more important than the method itself. If it does not work, stop and look at it from a different angle. As long as you keep your primary goals in mind along with your routing, you will be able to do your job exceptionally well. Related: International Nurses Association Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter