CampusRN Job Blog
Your 1st Year as a Nurse: Advice & Tips
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
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.
Alot 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.
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