Top 10 Tips for Nurses Some things you simply cannot know until you have actually experienced it, and nursing certainly falls into that category. If you are new in the nursing profession, some of the tips and advice from other nurses are very invaluable. Stay Updated You may be just out of school, and believe that you have the latest medical information and techniques, but not so fast. New medical advances are introduced daily. If you don't stay informed and continuously educated, you will be left behind. Never assume you know it all, because you can't. As soon as you learn something new there is additional information just waiting for you to research. Attend any training, seminars, or conferences offered to you, because the more you can learn, the better an asset you will be in your profession. Never let Anxiety Get to You Stress and anxiety go hand in hand with being a nurse, it really is unavoidable. That being said, you can find ways to deal with the anxiety so that you control it, and it does not control you. It can be a little overwhelming to think about the importance of your job and responsibilities. It is a very big job to care for your patients, and to know that you are responsible for multiple lives. As a busy nurse, it can become routine to perform your duties, however, at times the anxiety can catch up with you, the job you do is very critical. It is imperative that you learn coping mechanisms, and recognize anxiety and stress symptoms before they escalate into a big problem. It's impossible to eliminate all stress, however, dealing with it, and not letting you affect your life is attainable. Related: The Truth About Working Three Days a Week Communication The root of everything is communication. You probably are not a mind reader, and people cannot read your mind either. If you do not express yourself openly to your coworkers, it may lead to a failure to communicate. There are certain things that should be communicated to your supervisor, or to a coworker that may be working with you as a mentor. • You are having difficulty performing a medical procedure • You have a question about a patient’s medication
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You are having difficulty finding supplies You need help with a patient
It's better to ask for help if you think you might need it, or if you are even slightly unsure of yourself, medical mistakes can turn into a catastrophe. Develop a good rapport with your supervisor and coworkers so that there are always good and open lines of communication. Expect the Unexpected The one thing most nurses will agree on is, to expect the unexpected, you never know what will happen. Never assume, it can work against you, and quite often will. If you have a patient that is uncooperative, ask for assistance instead of assuming you can handle your patient alone. A scenario could develop that may result in the patient or you sustaining an injury. Nurses usually work as a team, and are very willing to help one another when needed, so take advantage of the offers to help with a patient’s behavior is in question. Think Before Answering Quick response times are expected of nurses, however the same does not hold true for the quick Answering of questions. Patients often don't think to ask their attending physician all of the questions that they have, and may later ask you. Before you provide an answer, put some thought into it. If it is not a general question, or it is a question that the physician may put some perspective on, advice the patient that you will need to check and you will get back to them. The same is true in regards to the patients' families; put some thought into your responses, as they give great credibility to your answers. Related: How to Deal with Work Gossip Organization If you are not organized, you will do twice the work during the same time span, literally. Organization is key to doing your job accurately. The organization actually begins with your uniform. When you purchase scrubs, look for scrubs with multiple deep pockets. Pockets are essential for any nurse. Consider wearing a waist pack if you have items that won't fit in your pockets, just make sure you have the basic essentials with you. Have a small flashlight, pens, etc., anything that you use multiple times during your shift. The more you have that is within reach, the more organized you are, and the better prepared you will be.
Professional Boundaries It is sometimes easy to become attached to the patients that you care for the long term. It is, however, essential to maintain those boundaries. You are the nurse, they are the patient, be sure the patient and their family members respect that. Don't share personal information other than the basics; it's all too common for patients to develop an attachment to their nurse or caregiver. Listen Listen to everyone, and what they say. You can always weed out the unnecessary, but you may obtain valuable and pertinent information. Your patients are the reason you are there, so it's important to hear what they have to say. Your coworkers may share valuable tips, or advice, it's a good idea to pay attention when on duty. Establish Priorities When you arrive for your shift, you may sometimes be bombarded with what needs to be done. Prioritize; it will help you make it through your shift. A list of what needs to be done may be beneficial, or an app, whatever helps you set the work priorities straight. Avoid Burnout Don't burn out by trying to work too many hours. It's tempting to cover those open shifts, with overtime pay as it is, who would not want to work the extra time. Just be cognizant of how hard you push yourself, don't overdo and burnout, then you will find that you can't work at all. All too often Nurses burnout from all of the hours and hard work they put in, so it's important to take care of you, and take an adequate amount of time away from work. Related: International Nurses Association - What's Your Superpower? Tshirt Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter