We’ve compiled some of the best tips & advice for Newly Registered Nurses, from our Nursing contributors. We hope these tips help you feel a little more confident about starting your Nursing career.
Topics covered in this article
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions
Speak Out About Unsuitable Shift Patterns
Always Advocate For Your Patient
A Tip For Working Night Shifts
Avoid Workplace Politics & Gossip
Ask Your Employer About Their Preceptorship Program
Remember Why You Became A Nurse
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions
Chloe - Mental Health Nurse
If you are just about to start as a newly qualified nurse, I can give you a little bit of advice, help you feel a little bit more confident, and get you excited, ready to start your career. My first tip, which is definitely the most important if you take nothing else from this video, please do not be afraid to ask questions and to ask for support. Just because you're qualified, people aren't gonna expect you to walk in and know everything and be able to do everything and just go off and be completely independent from day one. Nobody expects that of a newly qualified registered nurse.
They know you're gonna need support. They know you're gonna have questions. So please, don't be afraid to ask. Don't be afraid to speak up if you're not sure about something, you know? Don't worry about looking stupid. They think you know, I'm qualified. I should know this. You might just come across some things that you never dealt with as a student nurse. So if you've never dealt with it before, you're not gonna know how to handle it and that's absolutely fine. You're much better off just putting your hand up and saying, "I don't know how to do this. Can you help me with this?”. Than trying to do it on your own and doing it wrong.
One of the really important things within the NMC code of conduct is that as a nurse, you work within your limits and you know what you're capable of, and that's what you do. For example, as a student, if somebody said, "Oh, do you wanna go and give an injection for the first time?" You probably wouldn't just say, "Yeah, let's go and do it now." You'd probably say, "Can you talk me through it first? Give me a chance to read up about it. Can I watch you doing it first?" And that's exactly the same thing when you're a qualified registered . If you've never done something before and you don't know how to do it, just say.
I'm actually super excited 'cause obviously we're gonna have some newly qualified starting on my ward soon. And I'm really excited to be able to support them and help them to feel as confident that they possibly can, because I know how terrifying it is walking into a ward on that first day and going, "Hi, I'm Chloe. I'm your new staff nurse." I was petrified. I was absolutely petrified. You know, you could have been the most competent student nurse that has ever lived, and it's still a completely different ball game when you step onto that ward for the first time as a qualified registered nurse. Everything just feels really different.
About this contributor
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I have a background in visual media and film content. I'm now developing my publishing skills, and am enjoying talking to people in health and social care who want to contribute and feel passionate about what they do. I’m constantly struck by the quality and feeling in the articles we receive, and I aim to ensure the readers are too.
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