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.
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.
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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