New Nurse: Job Orientation Tips

16 days of orientation, and now I am working on my own as a new nurse. Is it scary at times? You bet ya. Will you get better at it? You bet ya. It’s a big responsibility that you now have; yet, as all nurses have, you too will get through this.  The following are my advice on making the most of your orientation:

·      Ask questions: This is your time to learn, soak up as much knowledge from your preceptor. Chances are, you will have the same question come up when you are on your own. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

·      Take notes: I was with paper and pen in hand writing down anything new that came up. I would then take it home, and review/organize it on a master list that I would read before the next shift as a reminder.

·      Organize your brain:  The more organized you are, the less stressed/overwhelmed you will be when that new admit comes in. Have a system where you can quickly look at your brain and know what is due when.

·      Find/Read the nurses’ resource book: Find where your facility holds their protocols/policies.  Chances are you’re not the first orientee that has questions about protocols/policies.

·      Develop a routine: I start getting ready for work 45 minutes before needing to drive out. This is where I prepare a meal, get dressed, eat etc.. Having a routine will help you not forget anything, and starts your shift off on a positive note.

·      Take care of yourself: Make a conscious effort to take a 30 minute lunch break. There will always be a need for you. Finding time to take a break and relax gives you time to soak in the overwhelming new information coming at you like a fire hose, and renews your strength for the remainder of the shift.

What did you find helpful when orienting?

#nurseadvice #nurseorientation #Newnurse #nurseresources #nursingjob #nursesrock #nurseslife #nurseproblems #nursing #nurse #rnchat #healthcare #hcr #healthpromotion #nursescrubs #nurseselfcare #boardofnursing

Losing weight: Tips

16 days of orientation, and now I am working on my own as a new nurse. Is it scary at times? You bet ya. Will you get better at it? You bet ya. It’s a big responsibility that you now have; yet, as all nurses have, you too will get through this.  The following are my advice on making the most of your orientation:

·      Ask questions: This is your time to learn, soak up as much knowledge from your preceptor. Chances are, you will have the same question come up when you are on your own. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

·      Take notes: I was with paper and pen in hand writing down anything new that came up. I would then take it home, and review/organize it on a master list that I would read before the next shift as a reminder.

·      Organize your brain:  The more organized you are, the less stressed/overwhelmed you will be when that new admit comes in. Have a system where you can quickly look at your brain and know what is due when.

·      Find/Read the nurses’ resource book: Find where your facility holds their protocols/policies.  Chances are you’re not the first orientee that has questions about protocols/policies.

·      Develop a routine: I start getting ready for work 45 minutes before needing to drive out. This is where I prepare a meal, get dressed, eat etc.. Having a routine will help you not forget anything, and starts your shift off on a positive note.

·      Take care of yourself: Make a conscious effort to take a 30 minute lunch break. There will always be a need for you. Finding time to take a break and relax gives you time to soak in the overwhelming new information coming at you like a fire hose, and renews your strength for the remainder of the shift.

What did you find helpful when orienting?

#nurseadvice #nurseorientation #Newnurse #nurseresources #nursingjob #nursesrock #nurseslife #nurseproblems #nursing #nurse #rnchat #healthcare #hcr #healthpromotion #nursescrubs #nurseselfcare #boardofnursing

Feeling sick: cold/flu

I can't say I'm the kind of person who gets sick very often. Yet, when I do, there are several things that help me get through it. 

I came home this weekend with a sore throat, chills, muscle aches, headache, and fatigue. I put my warm pants, socks, sweater and hat on, and rushed under the blanket. All I wanted to do was to lay in bed and wish all the pain away. If only it was that easy....

My husband bought me some antioxidant and vitamin rich foods that I love to eat when I am sick: blueberries, raspberries, oranges, smoothie, and Emergen-C Vitamin C. I would gobble the foods up intermittently, as I rested in my husband’s hands hoping the pain to go away. After tossing and turning for several minutes, I had fallen asleep. 

Upon awakening, I felt much better, yet still weak and sick. My throat felt much better and my muscle aches went away, yet I was congested and fatigued. It was good to see improvement. I took my Vicks Sinus inhaler to further speed the process of decongestion. 

My advice when you get the flu or a cold is to find time to rest your body. Listen to what your body is telling you, and let it rest. Drink plenty of fluids and eat up on antioxidant, and vitamin (especially vitamin C) rich foods. And, don’t underestimate the power of a loving embrace. Allow yourself time to recuperate, and to restore. Trust me, your body is going to love you for it. As for me, I still have some resting to do, yet the more I listen to my body's signals the better and better I get. 

What do you do to help you when you are feeling sick?

Job offered? Job accepted.

I am excited to announce that I have officially accepted a job offer!

It’s been approximately 3 months and a ½ that I have been actively applying for jobs, and the wait has been worth it. As of September 29, I am officially working at an acute rehabilitation facility where I get to educate and support patients during their most vulnerable of times. 

Despite taking a longer time to find a job, I actually enjoyed the break that I got after school. It was a much-needed break considering that I have been in school ever since kindergarten, up until now, and I am 24 years old. That’s 20 years in school! Did I need a break? You bet ya.

Truth be told, the break carried a mixture of feelings. One feeling of which I wanted to find a job as soon as possible, and another of wanting to just relax and enjoy myself before the 12-hour shifts kicked in.

Despite the concoction of feelings, I treasure every day of the break, and urge others who are actively looking for a job to do so as well.  It has been a blessing to me, even though I might not have really realized it. It gave me the time to center myself, to take care of myself, to prioritize my goals, and just let my brain/body rest from the busyness that life often carries with it.

My advice for those who are unemployed is to keep your chin up, don’t lose hope, keep applying, yet also take the time and appreciate the unstructured time you have off to spend with family, friends, and yourself. It’s a blessing in disguise. As of now, I am paper and pen in hand learning, and writing down all of the nuances and details of the job. Stay tuned.

What have you learned during your transition period into a job?


#Healthystrongbeautiful  #thrive  #awareness #healthpromotion #diseaseprevention #wholistichealth #healthyliving #optimism #lifeperspective #nurseadvice #nurseorientation #Newnurse #nurseresources #nursingjob #nursesrock #nurseslife #nurseproblems #nursing #nurse #rnchat #healthcare #hcr #healthpromotion #nursescrubs