6 Helpful Tips Every New Nurse Should Know

Becoming a nurse is a big commitment. You will likely have to dedicate a lot of hours to nursing school and a job after that.

Currently, there are over 4.2 million registered nurses in the United States. If you are reading this, you are likely about to become a new nurse and you may be overwhelmed with that thought.

Do you know what to expect? Are you nervous about entering this career?

These are seven tips that you should follow.

1. Develop a Strong Stomach

If you are a new nurse, there is a good chance that you may see some new things while you are on the job in the hospital.

There could be a chance that you see someone with their guts spread open. You could see somebody throw up all over themselves. Or, you could even see some dead bodies.

As a nurse, you have to remain professional in these situations. Patients are likely already feeling vulnerable as it is and family members are grieving those that die in hospitals.

Your job is to keep a straight face and remain rational. You can't have any reactions unless there is an urgent need for care. In other words, you are the rock that patients and family members are going to rely on.

2. Be Friendly

Another thing that you are going to want to do while you are on the job is to try and have a friendly attitude. This not only goes for the patients but also other members of your staff.

Being friendly can help spread positive energy. As a result, the people who you are speaking to are more likely to respond positively back to you.

This can help diffuse tense and stressful situations with patients and their families and goes a long way in helping you form stronger bonds with your colleagues. Let's face it, in hospitals, nurses are going in the trenches together and they see things that are not pretty. It can make your job easier and more relatable if you can bond with people that have been through similar experiences.

3. Find Mentors

If you are serious about your career, you are likely going to be looking for ways to move up. That can be anything from going to a better medical center to even becoming a doctor one day.

Early in your career, it is ideal to find a mentor that you can trust. This person is likely going to have plenty of experience in the field. They can give you advice on where you go next and what you have to do to advance in this career.

Most importantly, this can be someone reliable that you can lean on to get you through some tough times.

4. Get Some Rest

Some new nurses may feel pressured early in their career to step up and make an impact at their new job. However, some people do this too aggressively and end up burning out.

Admittedly, the United States is a place where overworking is part of the culture. About 94% of service professionals in the country end up working over 50 hours per week. This can be 10 hours a day for five days a week or a typical 8-hour work day for six days a week.

Either way, this is a lot of time dedicated to a job and it leaves little time for anything else. For starters, it can mean people do not feel like they have time to cook, clean, or keep up with their hobbies.

This catches up to most people. About 77% of Americans that work a full-time job claim that they have experienced burnout.

If you are working more than 50 hours per week all of the time, that is eventually going to wear you down. Make sure you set some limits.

5. Remember Your Family and Friends

This ties into getting some rest and being aware that too many hours of work can result in burnout. On top of this, you have to remember that you have a life outside of the medical center, your patients, and your fellow nurses.

Believe it or not, there are family and friends out there for most people who want to see you.

Being a nurse can take up a lot of time and a lot of energy. As a result, some nurses may forget to keep up with those that they were closest with before they started this job. If they are not careful, they can end up drifting apart from some of these people.

Make sure you dedicate time to those that supported you before your job. It can be a good reminder that you do have a life outside of your job.

6. Ask Questions

Finally, do not be afraid to ask questions about your new job. Ask a doctor what you have to do if you are not clear about a task. Ask where certain items go, what information some patients have about their diagnosis, how to handle loved ones, and more.

People are likely going to be ok with you not knowing everything in the beginning. Your job is to own up to it and learn after the first time somebody shows you how to do something.

Celebrate Being a New Nurse

These are six tips that a new nurse should follow. Do not be afraid to ask questions about the work environment. Also, try to make some friends on the job and find a mentor that you can rely on when the going gets tough.

Just make sure that you are not overworking yourself and that you remember the loved ones that got you here.

Then, you can celebrate your new job. Click here to see our new apparel for registered nurses.