3 Tips for New Nurses
If you’re just getting started in the nursing field, it’s okay to be overwhelmed. No matter where you’re working, being a nurse is an incredibly difficult job, both physically and emotionally. Starting as a nurse can be the most intimidating and staggering time in your nursing career, so don’t feel ashamed if you’re struggling.
#1. Take Care of Yourself
No matter what form of nursing you’re involved in, the very nature of the job demands that you take care of others. When you’re constantly spending all your effort on keeping other people safe and content, your own basic needs tend to fall to the wayside. As a new nurse, it’s important to remember that you need to take care of yourself. It’s impossible to do your job well if you’re not functioning properly, so make sure you’re tending to your body’s needs.
One of the biggest needs of any nurse is sleep. When you’re sleeping, your body not only heals from the wear and tear you get at work but your mind also has time to recuperate from your job. Ensuring you’re sleeping enough and at a high quality is crucial to succeeding as a new nurse. To make sure you’re getting the proper sleep, you need to have a good mattress. If you’re unsure about what type of mattress is best for your body and preferences, you can do an internet search for mattress shopping tips to help you. Making sure you’re cared for and healthy will help you take care of your patients.
#2. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask for Help
Because your first few years of nursing will be confusing, you can’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether you’re working at a hospital or in home health, you will have coworkers who have been there much longer than you have. If you ever have a question, don’t hesitate to ask someone. Chances are, they’d rather help you do something right the first time than have to correct your mistake. They were in your shoes once, and will probably be more than willing to help you succeed.
With the confusion of your first few years will need to come patience. As frustrated as you might get by your inexperience or the stress of your job, it’s important to stay patient with yourself. Make the effort to not get frustrated with yourself and instead give yourself the space to learn and grow from your mistakes. If you mess up, don’t get discouraged; make the corrections you need to and then learn from what went wrong. Giving yourself the chance to ask for help and the patience to follow through with it will help you succeed as a new nurse.
#3. Never Stop Learning
Finally, it’s important to never stop learning. Yes, you passed nursing school and got through your board exams, but the world of nursing is always evolving. New scientific advancements are being made every day, and as a nurse, you need to continue doing your best to learn as you go. Not only should you learn about what’s happening in the scientific world, but you should also strive to keep learning about what you’re doing in your position. Learn more about your coworkers, your patients, and your actual job title. Having this extra knowledge will give you an edge when you walk into work every morning.
As your first year of nursing goes by, you’ll find yourself absorbing a lot of information without even intending to. While the sheer amount of knowledge you’ll receive can be overwhelming, you can help manage your stress by prioritizing what you need to know. Some of the lessons you learn will be hard-wired into your mind, but others you may need to write down as reminders. Patience and flexibility play a part here. If you don’t learn everything all at once, don’t be discouraged. Nursing is an incredibly stressful position, and you will be learning the entire time.
Overall, there’s no reason to be afraid as a new nurse. Do your best and give yourself the space to make mistakes. You’ll make it as long as you keep working at it.
