Becoming a new nurse entering the field of the real world has proven to be a nerve-wracking experience for most, if not all, nurses in the profession. The good thing about this is every nurse you have come into contact with has had to deal with the same mixture of emotions: fear, anxiety, doubt, exhaustion, and helplessness. Have you heard the term impostor syndrome yet?
Below are a few tips outlined to help new nurses along the way. Remember, some of these tips may not always be what you need. Mix and match; figure out what your body needs at the moment.
Prioritize Mental and Physical Health
You cannot help anyone unless you first help yourself. Taking care of yourself is a priority. This can include a consistent sleep schedule, healthy, balanced meals, increased water intake, time in the sun, taking vitamins or prescribed medications, exercising, journaling, counseling, or participating in a hobby.
Grab a refillable water bottle, wake up 15 minutes early 3 days a week to practice yoga, and try meal prep. Developing a positive routine promotes overall wellness and health. This allows you to show up as your best self each day, whether for work, family, or friends.
Activity Idea: On a piece of paper, write down hobbies or activities that make you happy. Visualize how you can put these into your schedule and keep track of what is helpful.
Get Comfortable with Introducing Yourself
Being confident when introducing yourself allows your coworkers and patients to become familiar with your name and face and builds their confidence in you as a team member. This comes in handy when you may have a question or need help with a task. You can practice this in a mirror or with a friend.
I have heard many stories of people feeling a sense of impostor syndrome and have even had it myself. Impostor syndrome is a term that can be described as thoughts or feelings someone has that they are a fraud or incompetent and usually doubting one's successes or accomplishments. This is normal to feel as a new grad or nurse with few years of experience.
I learned that by being confident in my skill set and knowledge, always relying on evidence-based practices, and learning from my older peers, I could only get better, learn from past mistakes, and, most of all, fight that impostor syndrome.
Never Be Afraid to Ask Questions
As nurses, we will likely learn something new every day. Asking questions now will improve your knowledge and skills. If there is a patient or task that you are not completely comfortable with, have someone either demonstrate it, talk you through it, or simply shadow you to ensure you are completing it correctly. Do not be afraid of constructive criticism; use it to your advantage.
While you may assume that a supervisor knows your skillset, this may sometimes get missed. Always speak with a supervisor to inform them if you have a patient or assignment you cannot perform tasks for due to limited or no experience.
Earn Certificates and Take Classes
Education does not end at the time of graduation. As a healthcare professional, you will constantly learn something new since healthcare and medicine are always evolving. Along with the required continued education for license renewal, I need to find time to earn certificates, attend seminars and healthcare conferences, or possibly join one of many nursing organizations. Some of these options are offered with no fee.
Certifications are useful for improving your resume and can show a more advanced skill set due to more specific training. If you are interested in practicing a specific area of nursing, having certificates improves your chances of transitioning from one field to another. A professional nursing organization can offer more opportunities, networking, and further education while promoting professional and public safety. American Nurses Association is a well-known nursing organization that allows nurses to become members for a fee.
Time Management
Time is of the essence, or so they say. Even more so in healthcare since every second counts (especially in emergency situations). Time management savers that have helped some nurses have a smooth shift include ensuring their workstation is properly stocked, prioritizing tasks, and delegating. Ensuring you have all proper equipment at the start of your shift saves time and prevents stressful runs to supply closets. Limit distractions while working as much as possible to limit mistakes or falling behind on timed tasks.
Use Reference Tools
Dont you love getting asked a question from a family member about something you dont know? DONT PANIC. Using various reference tools can help in this situation, but first, don't be scared to tell your patient or their family you do not know. Just remember to finish that sentence with something of the sort: Let me find out for you; find you a resource or someone who can better explain that.
It is okay not to know everything, and it is not okay not to be willing to find out. Reference cards, pocket guides, cheat sheets, and educational apps for nursing are helpful during the new-grad period. Depending on the tool, they can list normal lab values and abnormal interpretations, disease processes, assessments, and more.
Try New Specialties
It can be overwhelming to decide on that first nursing position or switch to another specialty after a while. Narrow down the options to interests and qualifications that you meet. If there is a specialty you want to try, earn a certification geared toward that. Obtaining new positions by referral is easier, so keep in contact and maintain positive relationships with classmates, professors, and old bosses.
Understand that you have accomplished something by graduating from nursing school and passing your NCLEX. This is one of many successes at the beginning of your journey. Be proud of yourself and the lives that you will save. When in doubt, always fall back on your training and use the resources around you. Use these tips to start a personalized plan to get you and your career where you aspire to be.
About the Author:
Itia Wells has been an RN for 5 years and has 11 years of experience in the healthcare field, including her work as a CNA before becoming licensed. She has expertise in various specialties, with her most recent experience in behavioral health, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and travel nursing. Itia enjoys mentoring new nurses and teaching. She holds a certification in CPR instruction and has also served as a Nursing Director. She takes pride in continuous learning and in using her knowledge to educate those around her.
Itia is an independent contributor to CEUfast's Nursing Blog Program. Please note that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this blog post are solely of the independent contributor and do not necessarily represent those of CEUfast. This blog post is not medical advice. Always consult with your personal healthcare provider for any health-related questions or concerns.
If you want to learn more about CEUfasts Nursing Blog Program or would like to submit a blog post for consideration, please visit https://ceufast.com/blog/submissions.
