International Nurses Association

When you graduate and start your first nursing job, you will be full of emotions.   Excitement, anticipation, fear, and nervousness are all pretty standard emotions of a new nurse.   There are things you can do, and have with you to help, prepare, and remember. There is a lot to learn, and it will take some time to learn everything.   The First Day On your first day, there are some things that will be good to have with you, and to prepare you for a long career. Take a small note pad and pen.   Even if it is not convenient to take notes in the midst of training, you can jot down information when you, have time.   Ask questions; don't hesitate to ask questions as you receive training.   There really is no useless question when it comes to nursing, if you wonder about it, ask.   If you happen to be working a night shift, take a small flashlight.   Patients can get upset when they have a bright light turned on while they are trying to sleep.   Be sure to wear comfo

A Very Personal Story This story is told by Susan, a retired nurse. All names have been changed. Having been a nurse for several years, there were not a lot of extraordinary days.   Things were fairly routine, and seldom did I come across anything that shocked me.   So when I got a new patient, Catherine, it seemed like a normal day: An older lady in good spirits, but with a broken hip.   Following Catherine's surgery, she was recovering nicely, and I had some free time, so I was visiting with her.   I found her life story to be very interesting, as she had some difficult times as a young woman.   Pregnant at 17, she was forced to move away until the birth of her son, and then, after placing him up for adoption, she returned home, only to have her family move away due to fear of being shamed.   Catherine said she never gave up the thought of wishing she could find her son, which I understood, as my father was himself adopted and often thought that way about his

Most nurses change jobs 3 times during their first 7 years of working.   That is a good indication that you need to keep your resume up to date.   The first thing to keep in mind: Anything you achieve at your current job that is special or out of the ordinary should be documented and remembered.   Keep a file of certificates, seminars attended, and awards--anything that makes you stand out from other applicants.     Organizing Prior to sending out resumes, organize your accomplishments, and combine them with the job responsibilities that you currently have.   Be sure to include projects that you have assisted on, or unusual cases you have worked with.   The general rule of thumb is, if you have been out of school less than 10 years, include a short paragraph of school accomplishments.   You always want to include your school and degree, however if you have been out of school over 10 years, just list the school and degree.    Organize your information, starting from the most

Most nurses have worked 12 hour shifts, and occasionally 16 hour shifts, so where should the line be drawn? How many is too many?     12 Hour Shifts Many nurses work 12 hour shifts, and most have no problem in doing so.   The shifts are usually 3 days per week, allowing for 4 complete off days.   For most nurses, that works out great, however not everyone is the same.   Some people find that 12 hours is too many continuous hours, and they prefer a shift schedule of 8.   The important factor is, each individual should have a comfort level in the hours they work. Related: Where do Nurses Work?   Statistics On Working Hours Studies have been conducted on the nursing profession in regards to hours worked, and the results were not what was anticipated.   Prior to 2010, the American Medical Association recommended Nurses should work 8 hour shifts, and only in emergencies should they work 12 hours.   Of course their advice was not well received by nurses, and in fact was