Thriving Your Rookie Year as a Nurse

Cathy Yeulet/123RF.com

If you just graduated from nursing school, congratulation!  Now comes the exciting and scary part. You are probably more than ready to earn some money and put your skills to use. But even if you are excited about starting your nursing career, you may also be a bit apprehensive. It is perfectly normal to have a little anxiety your first few months on the job. But with the right attitude, you can thrive your rookie year as a nurse.

Getting Started

One of the first things you should do is take advantage of orientation. As a new nurse, you may be given a thorough orientation. You will likely have a preceptor showing you the ropes. Now is the time to ask questions if you don’t understand something. During your downtime, look through the resource binders or online policies and write down any questions you have.

Even if you did well in nursing school, there are some aspects of being a nurse that come with experience. There is no way nursing school can cover every situation you will come across. Hopefully, you have the baseline knowledge and critical thinking skills to be competent on the job. But you also need to recognize when you are in over your head.

It is essential to ask for help if you need it. Whether you need help dealing with a difficult patient or understanding hospital policies, your co-workers and supervisor are valuable resources. If you are unsure about doing a procedure, don’t fake it. You are better off asking for help, so you will know how to do it the next time around.

Learn as Much as You Can

Most hospitals offer a variety of workshops, trainings and continuing education classes. Medicine is always changing, so staying up to date on the latest procedures, treatment or theories is critical for doing the best job you can.

Know where resources are located in your unit. Some information may be online, but books, such as drug calculation resources, may also be available at your nursing station. If you are in doubt about something, look it up.

There is a lot to learn about caring for patients. Learn from everyone around you.  From other nurses to doctors and various allied health professionals, everyone can teach you something. The patients and their families can also teach you a lot about the importance of compassion and empathy. Hold on to the important lessons you learn your first year. They can make you a better nurse.

Handling Stress as a New Nurse

Not everyone has the same take on stress. For instance, you may be someone who does your best work under pressure. But at some point, stress on the job is inevitable. Although you cannot control every factor, which makes the job stressful, you can control how you react to stress.

Realize you will likely make mistakes. Even experienced nurses goof up occasionally. Acknowledge your error, learn what you can and move on.

It is also helpful to learn to leave work at work. Don’t relive every moment of your workday. While it is good to figure out what you can do better, obsessing over every move you made will only add to your stress.

Do’s and Don’ts to Thrive as a New Nurse 

• Do accept constructive criticism: If a supervisor offers advice, consider what they have to say. They most likely have a lot more experience than you do and may be on to something.
• Don’t be late: A sure way to make a bad impression as a new nurse is to be late for your shift. No one wants to wait for a late co-worker to take over their shift.
• Do learn time management skills: As a rookie nurse, learning to juggle several tasks at one time may be a challenge. The sooner you develop good time management skills, the smoother the job will be.
• Don’t forget the human aspect of nursing: Your shift can get very busy, and it can be easy to rush through things to get everything completed. Don’t get so caught up in tasks that you forget to treat your patients with understanding and compassion.
• Do keep perspective: Emotions can run high in a crisis or stressful situation. Co-workers, patients, and family members may all occasionally say things out of anger, frustration or fear. Don’t take things personally.

Browse Nursing Jobs

• Registered Nurse (RN) Jobs: https://www.hospitalrecruiting.com/jobs/RN-Jobs/
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN / LVN) Jobs: https://www.hospitalrecruiting.com/jobs/LPN-Jobs/
• Nurse Midwife Jobs: https://www.hospitalrecruiting.com/jobs/Certified-Nurse-Midwife-Jobs/
• Nursing Assistant Jobs: https://www.hospitalrecruiting.com/jobs/Nursing-Assistant-Jobs/