How To Triumph In Your First Nursing Assignment as a New Nurse
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If you're a new nurse, you may feel overwhelmed at the thought of your first nursing assignment. But don't worry!
Here we cover six tips to help you prepare for success. From getting organized to caring for yourself, these tips will help you hit the ground running on your first day. So read on and prepare to take your nursing career to the next level!
Get organized – ensure you have all the necessary paperwork and supplies before your first day.
As a new nurse juggling multiple responsibilities, it’s essential to get organized and start your assignment on the right foot. Make sure to have all the necessary paperwork you need for your job, such as certifications or clearances.
It’s also important to have the essentials, such as a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, writing materials, and any other items you might require daily. Preparing all these things before your first day will make the transition smoother and ensure everything is in place when it’s time to start working.
Familiarize yourself with the unit or floor – know where everything is located.
If you are taking on a short-travel nurse assignment, one of the best things you can do to prepare for your new job is familiarize yourself with the unit or floor you will be working on – know where everything is located. This will help speed up and improve your workflow as you’ll have easy access to all the job's necessities and be ready to jump into the daily tasks from day one.
Consider looking at reference images online or ask if someone knows their way around, so you get an idea of what it looks like before your first assignment. You may also find it helpful to take a short tour when you arrive so you find what works best for you and make sure there aren’t any shortcuts that could save time.
To ensure a smooth transition, taking the extra time to ensure that regular workflow processes are understood beforehand can go a long way in helping make your short-term nursing assignment successful.
Introduce yourself to the staff and patients.
When beginning short-travel nurse assignments, you must introduce yourself to the staff and patients in your new environment to let them know who you are and that you're there to help. Doing so helps familiarize yourself with the facility, allowing you to quickly get up-to-speed on staffing patterns, medications, treatment routines, and where necessary resources are located.
Not only does this help make a smoother transition into the assignment for yourself, but also for your colleagues and the patient depending on you for care.
Introducing yourself establishes trust with staff and patients, which should be an integral part of any nurse-patient relationship.
Be patient – things will probably be hectic at first.
Starting a job as a new nurse can be daunting, especially when you’re first starting out. There is an undeniable hectic nature to the job, but it is essential not to let it consume you.
Instead, take a deep breath and be patient with yourself and your co-workers. Everyone is learning alongside you and figuring things out in their own ways.
Keep a positive attitude – this will be contagious among patients and staff members
When making your first nurse assignment, having a positive attitude can be extremely helpful in many ways. Not only will it help to create an uplifting work environment for patients and staff members, but staying positive can increase efficiency.
Employing a can-do mindset can make all the difference in handling tasks that come with the job and make working under pressure easier. Smiling puts everyone at ease and adds an air of assurance when surrounded by unknowns.
Furthermore, it boosts morale among co-workers on both sides of the job board and positively influences patient care. Remember: A good outlook makes for better outcomes all around!
Offer to help whenever possible – even if it's just fetching coffee or water
Starting as a newly qualified nurse can be overwhelming with all the responsibilities and learning that come with it. One of the best ways for new nurses to learn is by taking the initiative and offering help wherever needed.
Volunteering to fetch coffee or water for other colleagues, or take on a task that may not necessarily be in your job description, shows good team spirit and builds credibility in the eyes of experienced staff members. Such willingness to help in any way possible builds trust and mutual respect and is an essential part of learning on the job.
Final thoughts
Being a new nurse can be daunting, but by following these six simple tips, you can ensure that your first day (and all the days after) goes as smoothly as possible. From being organized to keeping a positive attitude, these tips will help set you up for success.
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
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