Getting Through Your First Year as A New Grad Nurse: Tips For Success

Congratulations new grads! You did it. You've made it through several long years of prerquisites, intense nursing school courses and you've passed the infamous NCLEX exam. You're officially a licensed nurse. Now it's time to embark upon this new journey. Here are my top 5 tips for success.

1. Be open to corrective criticism. You'll be bombarded with tons of new information when you hit the floor as a new nurse. You will be expected to practice critical thinking, sharpen and broaden your skillset, become familiar with facility policies and practice good time management. Unfortunately, you won't remember everything you learned in nursing school. Allow yourself to be taught during your facility training. No matter how "unimportant" a task may seem, veteran nurses can sometimes see the bigger picture. Take advantage of their knowledge.

2. Ask questions. This is not the time to "fake it 'til you make it". If you are unsure of something, ASK! Yes you want to exude confidence in front of patients and family members, but it is okay to ask for help or use any resources available to you when you are unsure of yourself.

3. Look for the rationale in your tasks. You should be abe to explain the reasoning behind everything you do. If you don't know why you are performing a task or giving a medication, then back to tip number 2, ASK!

4. Ask For Help. Learning how to prioritize your patients' care is something that comes with experience. And even the most experienced nurses get overwhelmed sometimes. Let your team know when you need help getting things done. Do not sit back and suffer in silence. Only the patient suffers in the end!

5. Remember, it gets better with time. You wont know everything, and that is okay. Don't let things like failed IV and catheter attempts or the fact that you had to look up a few medications make you feel like you don't belong. Remember to give yourself some grace as you are learning. Healthcare is an evergrowing field, and once you become a nurse, you are a student for life anyway!

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