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In a nutshell, the purpose of nursing is to provide compassionate, competent, and evidence-based care to patients and their families.
Nurses are obligated by oath to provide that care as competently as possible. For many nurses, this means providing support to people in difficult or painful situations as an advocate for their health and well-being.
The type of nursing you will do will depend on where you work and what specialty you choose.
This article will take you through some of the areas that new nurses need to be aware of and how to deal with them in the most effective way.
Setting and Meeting Goals as a New Nurse
As a nurse, you can expect to meet many different people, both staff and patients, with different personalities in both your clinicals and when you start your first nursing role. Each person will have their own way of doing things, and they’ll each have their own goals they want to meet.
Be respectful of the time and goals of each patient, as well as your coworkers. If you have a question or need help with any task, don’t hesitate to ask.
Some patients will be open about what they want out of life and health care, while others may be more reserved or shy about coming forward with the information you need to help them.
Patient-Centered Care Plans and Procedures
While you are a new nurse, you will also need to be familiar with the basics of how to write a care plan for a patient.
A patient-centered care plan is basically a list of all of the details that are relevant to understanding and caring for your patient.
In order to write one, you should get as much information from your patients as possible. People have different ways of communicating what they need and want, so be prepared to adjust the questions you ask them in order to learn more about their personal situation.
Provider and Family Interactions as a New Nurse
Patients and family members can sometimes feel overwhelmed or frustrated by their treatment plans or by coming into unfamiliar surroundings at a hospital.
As a nurse, you are there to provide the best possible care for your patients, but you also need to communicate with them in a way that will make them feel comfortable.
Finding common ground, such as talking about their family or interests outside of the hospital, is a great way to put them at ease and improve communication.
Your other goal may simply be to get your patient from point A to point B in the quickest and most painless way possible – and that is exactly what you should do!
Professionalism and Staff Relationships as a New Nurse
As a new nurse, you may feel intimidated by the older or more experienced nurses who have more professional experience than you. However, it is important to remember that they were once in your position.
Professionalism goes a long way towards being seen as an equal member of the staff. So, you should always be polite and understanding, even when working with others who may not be as respectful towards you.
Respect can go both ways, so if a nurse or doctor tells you something needs to be done in a certain way, it doesn’t mean they are trying to pick on you or make your job harder. They simply have experience and know what types of tasks are more efficient for everyone involved.
Communicating with Patients and Families
As a nurse, you will interact with patients, caregivers, and families on a daily basis. Sometimes the conversations you have can be pretty simple and straightforward, but other times the remarks you make may be more open to interpretation.
Be careful not to offend any of your patients with your observations by making assumptions about them. This could cause them to feel like their privacy is being invaded or their rights are being violated.
Providing Encouragement and Support as a New Nurse
A lot of new nurses may find that they have little in common with their patients or even other staff members at first. This is especially true when first starting out on a job.
However, as you become more comfortable with each other, you will most likely find that your coworkers are very willing and able to help each other out.
The assistance you receive from your coworkers can be invaluable in your first few weeks on the job. Ask for guidance or advice in the beginning stages of your experience just to make sure you’re on the right track with learning how to be a good nurse.
Flexibility as a New Nurse
Being flexible is crucial when it comes to a new role as a nurse. You need to consider that not only do different people have different personalities, but they also may have different priorities as well.
Your patients may have different ideas about what they need or want, so you should always be ready to make adjustments when necessary. Being flexible will also ensure that you have a positive relationship with your coworkers.
Communication as a New Nurse
To make the most out of your job as a new nurse, you need to communicate with your patients and their families in the right way. You should never be condescending, but there are a few things you can do differently to improve the conversation:
- Make eye contact with your patient or family member when talking – This shows that you are paying attention and will help them feel more comfortable communicating with you.
- Listen to what they have to say – This shows that you are taking their needs into consideration.
- Be honest with them – If your patient or family member is not satisfied, explain how you plan on correcting the situation.
- Use proper grammar and a respectful tone of voice – This will help when dealing with tough situations.
- Provide positive feedback – It’s important to remember that all people like to hear positive reinforcement every now and then, so if you feel like the situation has been handled adequately, let your patient know.
- Write reports in a legible manner and turn them in on time – Don’t make it hard for your nurse manager to read through your paperwork or chart notes by writing sloppy or illegible handwriting.
Managing Your Time Effectively as a Nurse
How can new nurses manage their time effectively?
The main thing you need to do is prioritize your daily tasks, and that is never an easy task in the first place. As a new nurse, you will have to set aside all distractions and focus on doing what needs to be done. That may mean staying up late at night or waking up earlier than usual, but both of these changes can help you become a successful nurse.
Managing Your Time as a Nurse – Tips for New Nurses:
Plan ahead
Your strategy for this will depend on how much time you have before the shift starts.
Organize your materials
You will want to make sure you have a pen, stethoscope, notebook, and other tools available to you at all times.
Prioritize your tasks
Make a list of what needs to be done and what can wait until later.
Be flexible with your priorities when necessary
If one thing comes up that must be handled immediately, don’t let it interfere with everything else. In the long run, it is worth the compromise in order to finish on time.
Realize that you can only do so much in a day and prioritize accordingly
Don’t try to do too much all at once and stay focused on specific tasks instead of getting side-tracked.
Mental Health as a New Nurse
When you are a new nurse, you also need to be aware of your own mental health and how it may affect your work. In any profession with a lot of responsibility, burnout is an issue that can cause a person to feel overwhelmed and unable to continue.
It is important to take care of yourself when you are feeling overwhelmed because when you are mentally healthy, it will be easier to deal with the demands of the role.
Having the Right Attitude as a New Nurse
You will have days where everything seems like it is going wrong, or even worse, like no one wants what’s best for them. No matter what job you’re in, there will always be some degree of negativity that comes along with it.
However, the best way to deal with the negative people in your area is to approach them in a positive manner. That may sound like it makes no sense, but it will show them that you truly care about their needs.
Try to avoid arguing with them as much as possible. You should also avoid being too negative or critical of others because this will only cause them to feel unwelcome and unwanted.
Nursing is a challenging career that requires a lot of hard work. However, many people find the rewards to be worth the effort.
There are many rewards for those who work hard, but the most rewarding thing about being a nurse is helping patients overcome their negative situations and start living healthier lives.
Nursing or medicine is a huge profession within which nurses can obtain many benefits both in personal growth and income capacity.
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