4 Tips to Navigate the First Year of Your Nursing Career

• The start of your nursing career is one of the most exciting, stressful, whirlwinds of emotion. 
• Learning does not stop after graduation, and it’s important to embrace every educational opportunity in your path. 
• By embracing learning, time management, communication, resiliency, and self-care you will be able to navigate your first steps with confidence and compassion. 

The start of your nursing career is one of the most exciting, stressful, and unpredictable whirlwinds of emotion. This journey might seem stressful, but every nurse has felt this way at the beginning of their career.  

One thing to remember about your nursing career is that you’re always learning. Like the old saying goes, “You learn something new every day.” That’s exactly what working as a nurse is like. Learning does not stop after graduation. In fact, school is just the start.  

Embracing every educational opportunity in your path will help make you a better nurse. Volunteer to aid the physician in a procedure you haven’t seen, attend continuing education trainings and workshops, and participate in in-service training opportunities. Anything to build a strong foundation of skills is important as a new graduate nurse.  

Consider these important tips and tricks to help navigate your first nursing job. 

Time Management

Time management has been discussed since the beginning of nursing school, but what does that really mean? Nursing is fast-paced and demanding, and prioritizing what is critical to what can wait is crucial to survive your shift.  

At the start of each shift, organize your patients and their tasks to create a plan for the day. Set realistic goals for each shift and learn to delegate and ask for help. You are not super woman. We all need help and that is okay.

Delegating tasks and asking for help will prevent you from drowning in your never-ending to-do list. Over time, you will discover a routine that works for you and allows you to provide excellent, high-quality care while meeting deadlines.  

Effective Communication is Essential

Whether you are speaking to coworkers, families, or patients, effective communication is needed. Actively listening to concerns, asking open-ended questions, and explaining information clearly and concisely is important. Collaborate with the multidisciplinary care team to coordinate care and aid in the patient achieving goals. Clear and effective communication ensures continuity of care and promotes a safe work environment. 

Stay Resilient

I am going to be honest when I say that nursing can beat you up mentally; you will have battles to overcome and will need to adapt. Between handling emergencies and complex patients, each experience will contribute to your development as a nurse.  

Seek support from colleagues and mentors during difficult times and remember that each challenge you overcome is an opportunity to grow and flourish. Always celebrate successes, big or small. And remember — keep your head up because you are strong! 

Take Care of Yourself (and Your Nursing Career)

Prioritize your peace and your self-care. While caring for others it can be a challenge to remember to care for yourself. Nursing can be physically and emotionally draining; self-care needs to be a priority.  

I can’t tell you to not take your work home because sometimes that’s impossible, but what we can do is seek counseling if needed, prioritize sleep, exercise regularly, and develop healthy eating habits. While at work, remember to take breaks during shifts to recharge and decompress. Caring for yourself leaves you better equipped to care for others! 

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, taking on a nursing career is an exciting journey filled with opportunities for growth and impact. By embracing learning, time management, communication, resiliency, and self-care you will be able to navigate your first steps with confidence and compassion. Remember all experiences shape you into becoming an exceptional nurse that you are trying to be! 

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