8 Tips For New Nurses
Work can feel a little overwhelming at first when you start as a nurse. No amount of studying will prepare you for life as a nurse, which can make it tough when you are just getting started. It is the same for everyone, though, and you will find that you will quickly adjust and start to settle. There are also a few handy tips for new nurses that should help you to hit the ground running, make a good impression, and provide the best possible care for your patients. So, if you have recently started nursing or you are just about to, here are a few tips that should help.
1. Find A Mentor
When you are just getting started, perhaps the single best thing that you can do is find a mentor. A mentor can be incredibly useful during this challenging time as you will have someone on your team that can advise, support, and guides you. People often make the same mistakes at the start of a nursing career, but when you have someone experienced in your corner, you can avoid these mistakes and learn a tremendous amount. You will also find that this can be helpful when you start to look to progress your career as they may be able to open doors for you.
2. Stay Organized
Nursing, by nature, is a stressful role. This is unavoidable, but you will find that there are ways that you can manage this stress and stay on top of everything. Having strong organizational skills is as important as any other skill that you will learn as a nurse, as this will help you to manage your workload, prioritize and keep on top of everything. It can sometimes feel like the wheels are coming off when you are juggling multiple cases, but when you have strong organizational skills, you will be able to manage and avoid mistakes.
3. Know That Mistakes Will Happen
When you first start nursing, it is likely that you will be terrified of making a mistake. This is for good reason because mistakes can be the difference between life and death in this line of work, but you must also know that mistakes will happen. The key is to make sure that this is not a major mistake and to learn what you can from the incident. Every nurse makes mistakes, but the great nurses are the ones that will get back on the horse and see it as a chance to learn.
4. Be A Team Player
You need to leave your ego at the door when working in healthcare and understand that it is always a team effort with your fellow nurses, doctors, and all other staff. Therefore, it is important that you are a team player and always happy to help, no matter how big or small the role. You should also be there for your fellow nurses, whether this is helping them out after your shift has ended or being there for support after a difficult day. There is a strong sense of community amongst nurses, and they can be a tremendous source of support when times are tough.
5. You Will Learn To Manage The Difficult Parts Of The Job
No amount of studying can prepare you for the death, sickness, blood, guts, and other things that will shock, disgust, and upset you. It is perfectly natural to feel shaken at first, but it is important to know that you will learn to manage this part of the job with experience. Things like death and grief will never be easy and always leave their mark, but you do learn how to take this in your stride and not let it affect your work or personal life.
6. Progress In A Field That Interests You
In nursing, you want to find a field that interests you and then continue your studies in this area. Many nurses gravitate towards becoming a family nurse practitioner (FNP), which is for a good reason. FNPs take care of patients of all ages, which can be both interesting, varied and rewarding. This is also a highly flexible role and one that can earn a healthy salary. The Spalding University FNP program will prepare you for a role as a family nurse practitioner in Louisville and teach you everything that you need to know to be an FNP that makes a difference.
7. Focus On Bedside Manner
When you work as a nurse, it is very easy to become detached when you are dealing with dozens of patients each and every day. Remember that for the patient, being in hospital will always be scary and a big deal. This is why bedside manner is so important so from the start, you want to make sure that you are developing positive habits like supporting patients and their families, answering questions, and getting to know your patients.
8. Find Ways To Separate Work From Home
Nursing is more a way of life than a job, and it can be hard to forget about work when you are dealing with death, sickness, and all kinds of other difficult things each day. You need to find what works for you in terms of keeping work and home separate so that you can really make the most out of your time off and recharge. Again, this is something that you figure out with experience. For some people, socializing with friends and family will work, while for others, it will be exercise. Just make sure that you are enjoying your free time and leading a healthy lifestyle, and do not shy away from asking for help if you ever need it.
Hopefully, the information in this post will be useful to anyone that is just starting as a nurse. It is overwhelming at first, but you should quickly find your feet, and these tips should help you to start making a positive impact that will improve patient outcomes and help you to develop a positive reputation.
