When something like this happens, it unfairly puts a negative spotlight on the nurses who have worked so hard to be in a field where they make a positive impact.” - Meg Harrell, RN BSN
Nurses, please keep in mind that no one likes a complainer, so don’t be one! You can vent, but take it easy and try to end on a positive note. Asking for advice and simply stating your problems are two completely different mindsets – learn the difference 💯
As a new nurse – you still have so much to learn. Unfortunately, you’re probably going to need to arrive at work 30 minutes early to begin preparing for your shift. 😅
New nurse tip: Keep up with your charts and task as they come up. If you save them for later, there might not be enough time to complete them. Remember that you cannot fully anticipate when you will be really busy. 💯
Nurses have the best poker faces in the business. You will see it all as a new nurse. Patients may say odd things to you, ask you questions that test your knowledge, or sometimes code and pass away right in front of you. And through it all, you learn to keep a poker face. 😉
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all best time to take the NCLEX. You will have a different success story. It’s a matter of finding the time that’s best for you. My advice is to allocate a specific amount of time each day to itemize the topics you need to cover during each session.
Nurse communication is a skill that takes years to perfect. It's a skill you have to master in your nursing practice; it can't be taught in school. The ability to report to colleagues will ultimately come to you, but not until you find a style and flow that suits you.
Not asking questions is the most dangerous thing you can do for your professional license and your patients. As healthcare continues to change and you continue to grow as a healthcare professional, chances are that ‘asking questions’ will never end.
Nurses, you will inevitably meet people you "click" with right away as you start to develop friends on the unit. Find at least one doctor, experienced nurse, and another team member (perhaps a charge nurse) eager to mentor you! 😉