Nursing School Graduate Advice

In part one of this blog I discussed why the transition from student nurse to new grad can be a challenging time for a new nurse.  As I said in that blog, hospitals are doing their part to make the transition easier.  There are also some smart strategies a new graduate nurse can employ to make sure that once you finally get employed as a nurse, you don’t get frustrated and throw all your hard work away.

• Set Goals: Think about it – for the past four years you have been working hard toward this seemingly elusive goal of “RN.”  Now that you’ve earned your letters, don’t settle back and simply try to “survive” as a new grad.  If you haven’t done so already, this is the time to set new career goals.What area would you like to eventually specialize in and how can you be working toward that now (extra training, etc.)? Would you like to eventually earn your Master’s Degree or become a nurse practitioner? Having a new ball to keep your eye on is an excellent way to work through the stress of being a new grad without getting sidetracked by thoughts of bailing.

• Use Your Mentor: Utilize the experienced nurse mentor the hospital assigns you, just as you would use a nursing instructor. It is in their best interest and the hospital’s best interest (mutually the same) to make sure that you have knowledge and skills needed to move forward safely and confidently into your new role as RN (versus student nurse).If, for any reason, you do not feel comfortable utilizing your assigned mentor in this way speak to your nurse manager about finding another nurse who you feel more comfortable with. If this does not work, do some research on your own or through your school and find an experienced nurse who is willing to answer your “new grad” questions outside of work. The point is – find a mentor you trust and use them to your advantage.

• Use the Time Wisely: Consider your new grad time as a paid extension of nursing school and squeeze every learning experience from it possible. There is no need to rush through your period as a new grad. I know it seems natural to think like this, since you have been sprinting through nursing school for the last four years.This is the time to slow down and make you know what you need to know to cut the cord and go stand on your own two feet as a nurse. Believe me - you’ll have all the time in the world to not be a student nurse or a new grad. Enjoy the learning curve while it lasts!