#ERnurse ER Nursing101 Nightshift Newgradnursing

[insultmom]

Any words of wisdom for new grad nurses?

My best advice is to keep your mouth closed and your eyes and ears open. That may sound harsh, but I promise you that 5 years down the road, you will say the exact same thing. Take every opportunity to learn something. When you do speak, ask questions. Lots of them. There are no stupid questions except the ones left unasked. Actually, that's a lie... There are stupid questions, but we're all going to have a good laugh about it later, I promise.

Don’t criticize tenured nurses for being jaded, or uncaring, especially when you hear us cracking jokes about patients or situations. You will understand in a few years that humor is what keeps us from going insane.

Don’t ever be afraid of doctors, surgeons or administrators. Hold them to the same standards you would anyone else, and that includes manners. They're kind of like dogs or small children, if you set clear expectations of them from the beginning, then you won't have a problem later. You alone determine how the physicians will speak to you. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions if you don’t understand their orders, or a particular condition. And don’t be afraid to question a particular treatment or medication if it doesn’t make sense.

Remember that a little Narcan never hurt anyone, but a lot of Narcan will throw an addict into acute withdrawal, so be prepared for them to seize. It's a good idea to have suction handy. And Ativan.

Codes always equal Epi. And even after you get them back, better push some more Epi and hang a drip.

The pharmacists are your friends. Likewise, so are the cafeteria workers. Be nice to them if you want drugs or food in a timely manner.

Wear good shoes. I have always worn Dansko’s, but you have to find what works for you. You have to take care of your feet, and if that means shelling out $130 for Dansko’s every year, then so be it. I would spend more money on shoes and less money on a stethoscope. But, as far as stethoscopes go, the Littmann Cardiology III is the best stethoscope for the money. There is no need to get any fancier than that.

If you are sick, take a day off. Don’t be a martyr, no one gets an award for torturing themselves for a job. Take a personal day every once in awhile. I call them mental health days. You will need one occasionally, trust me.

Be nice to the nurses aides. Do your own work when you can, but learn when, and more importantly, how to delegate. Just as nurses can make or break a doctor, a nurses' aide will make or break a nurse. If you treat them poorly, you will pay.

Get and maintain as many certifications as possible. If your hospital pays for you to take PALS, ACLS, TNCC, ENPC, ABLS, and ATLS, take them. And if you can get a specialized certification like your CEN (certified emergency nurse) then by all means, take the test! These also usually entitle you to a small merit increase, my hospital is $0.50/hr. Join professional organizations as well, like the ENA. You get CEU offerings, a magazine subscription and another addition to your resume. Employers look for this information, especially in specialized areas like critical care, emergency nursing and pediatrics. It shows that you value your profession and want to excel.

And finally, learn how to laugh at yourself, find the humor in any situation you can, and have a good time. If you don't enjoy what you're doing the majority of the time, you picked the wrong profession. I still enjoy going to work most days. When I stop enjoying it, it will be time to move on.