12 Inspiring Tips That Every New Nurse Should Know

As a newly qualified nurse, and even for those with years of experience, being able to navigate the social and professional environments within the medical field is paramount to your success.

Especially in the case of new nurses entering this high-intensity work environment for the first time, though, there can be an incredible amount of added pressure just when it comes to figuring out the basics of work etiquette – like always showing up with clean cotton scrubs for work each day, for example. So, consider the following tips to get you through the “new” nurse stage as effectively as possible!

Your Teammates May Be Your Biggest Fans

Bonding in a work environment has been proven to enhance the team’s performance and efficiency as well as provide the entire team with a boost in morale. Bonding with your team members doesn’t have to mean hard work building up relationships to best friend status or even committing to a platonic relationship outside of work, but it will mean subtly surrounding yourself with a support system that’s on your side.

The Only Silly Question Is the One You Don’t Ask

It may be hard to keep in mind given their present state, but every professional you work with was once at this stage, too. So, never hesitate to ask questions if you’re unclear about specifics, even if they seem like silly ones – because no question is silly except for the one that was never asked.

Along with this, asking for advice as opposed to simply stating your problems without any solution is much more productive, and will absolutely come across that way. Even if you don’t ask, if you’re around a professional who’s kind and willing to share advice, always be willing to learn and take it!

Plan for the Worst in the Best Way

There is no way of predicting how chaotic a shift will be or how the events of the day will transpire. Therefore, expecting the worst that can happen is the best strategy for not getting caught off guard. With that in mind, it can easily lead to pessimism and a negative outlook, so be honest with yourself and others that inconveniences and mistakes can and will happen, and maintain a positive attitude about it.

Be Prepared Before Calling a Doctor

Doctors are tasked daily with processing an exceptional influx of information. Knowing this, you’ll want to make the transfer of information as smooth and seamless as possible. Be sure to always have patient charts, as well as pens and paper readily available to take notes. It wouldn’t hurt to consider making a list of the things you need to mention in advance!

Good Equipment and Accessories Are Essential

As a nurse, it’s expected that you carry a certain set of essentials with you to complete your toolkit. These tools can greatly assist in honing your skills and even accentuating them to patients – if you invest in good ones. A few of your basic nursing tools to consider upgrading include your stethoscope, your watch, your pens of all varieties, your clipboard/binder, and your hand sanitizers, and creams.

Put Some Thought Into Your Professional Image

While your performance shouldn’t be judged by the way that you look, it often is by patients. As a nurse, your profession is established on the principles of health, wellness, and medical competence – so make sure that this is what you project!

Aside from clean and wrinkle-free scrubs, you need to have clean, combed hair (including facial and body hair), clean skin, clear attention to oral health, heavily scrubbed hands and nails, and odor-free shoes and feet.

Along with this, you’ll want to think about finding the perfect hairstyle, the perfect nursing bag, and the perfect underscrubs for nurses in order to boost your confidence in more ways than one!

Observe the Professionals Around You

The landscape of healthcare and the role of the nurse is always changing and getting more challenging. There is abundant knowledge to be gained by observing the experienced doctors and nurses around you, even if it’s something as simple as including a signature block on all of your emails! Study their movements, mannerisms, work ethic, and the use of utensils or machinery related to your daily operations.

Be a Nurse to Your Workspace

As a nurse, you are not only responsible for the health and wellness of the patients in your care, but also for maintaining a healthy work environment. Activities such as gossip and slander of other team members and superiors should not be encouraged as this weakens the strength of the team unit!

A Solid Routine Is Unrivaled

Arriving early and preparing for the day’s tasks is the best way to avoid the clutter and brain fog that comes with a heavy workload. It’ll help you navigate in the unit you’re assigned to and, before you know it, your workflow will seem effortless and more structured.

Observing your work efficiency to see if your routine is working for you and asking yourself how it can be adjusted for even more efficiency is always recommended, as well!

Your Personal Life Is as Important as Your Professional Life

Nursing is not for the faint of heart. The nature of the role requires constant physical activity and mental fortitude, but you can’t be so consumed with work that you neglect yourself.

No matter how passionate you are about your new nursing career, it’s a high-stress role that requires time away to rejuvenate. But don’t worry – it will only result in a more focused and vigorous work attitude.

Your Footwear Really Does Carry You

As a nurse, you spend the majority of your shift on your feet. In addition to finding cute shoes to go with your scrubs, though, you’ll want to ensure that you find comfortable and durable shoes for nurses that will carry you through the day as much as they’ll add comfort to the long run.

Lean Into Lifelong Learning

Regardless of the field of nursing you’ve chosen to pursue, there will always be new innovations to keep up with, new ways to advance, and endless opportunities to learn! And while you will inherently learn on the go on a daily basis, investing in continued education or being extra proactive in your pursuit of knowledge is ALWAYS beneficial as a nurse – and this was a great first step!