7 Things All New (And Experienced) Nurses Should Remember
Whether you recently graduated from nursing school or you are well into your nursing career, here are seven important things for us all to remember throughout our journeys as a nurse:
Take care of yourself: Nursing can be a challenging and demanding profession, both physically and emotionally. It is important to prioritize self-care, such as getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and taking breaks when needed. Spending time with family and friends, pets, or prioritizing alone time, can help you maintain your energy and emotional resilience.
Learn as much as you can: Nursing is a continuous learning process, so be open to learning new things every day. Ask questions, seek out mentorship, attend workshops and conferences, and keep up with the latest research in your field. With recent advances in technology and AI, nurses can expect significant advancements in how patients are cared for the resources available to do just that.
Be compassionate and empathetic: Patients are often going through a difficult time, and they need someone who can understand and support them. Practice empathy and show compassion in your interactions with patients and their families. While some patients may be experiencing a condition, illness, or injury that they expect to make a full recover from, others may not be in that same predicament.
Communication is key: Effective communication is crucial in nursing. Develop strong communication skills, both verbal and written, and be clear and concise in your interactions with patients, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals. Breakdowns in communication can lead to adverse events, while closed-loop communication, role or task clarity, and working as a tam can improve patient care outcomes.
Be organized and detail-oriented: Nursing involves a lot of documentation, medication administration, and other tasks that require attention to detail. Develop good organizational habits and stay on top of your responsibilities to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. It may be helpful to utilize a task schedule. If what you need to do is written or typed out, you are less likely to forget it.
Practice self-reflection: Take time to reflect on your experiences, both positive and negative, and learn from them. This will help you grow as a nurse and improve your practice over time.
Seek out support: Nursing can be stressful, so don't be afraid to seek out support from colleagues, friends, family, or a therapist if needed. It's important to have a strong support system to help you manage the demands of your job. Talking with your peers may also validate what you are feeling or experiencing as they too may have been in a similar situation.
