“An
investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
Benjamin Franklin had the right idea when he talked about using the knowledge you’ve earned and putting it to good use. As nurses, we have a desire for continual learning, especially with the ever-changing new practices and research in the health care profession. If you’re new to nursing and have been working for only a year or two, you may be wondering, “What path should I be taking?” or “How can I broaden my knowledge and skills?”
There are many ways you can develop your career as a new nurse with opportunities that are often within your area of employment.
1. Obtain a certification.
For as many different nursing specialties that exist, there are virtually as many certifications for each and every one of them. Many hospitals offer additional compensation for nurses who are “board-certified,” meaning you are recognized by a specialty association of nursing as an expert in that specific area of nursing. There are other specific roles within your field of nursing that you may choose to be certified in such as becoming a Certified Diabetes Educator or a Certified Childbirth Educator.
2. Join a committee.
Many hospitals have committees for nurses called Shared Governance. Shared Governance is a group of nurses working together to implement best practices on a hospital unit. These practices can range from work-related issues such as scheduling to practice-related issues such as updating a policy on the best way to monitor patients’ blood sugar. These unit-based councils may also collaborate with other hospital units within a specific department to address how to best work together and keep patients safe.
3. Find a nurse-residency program.
This is particularly for brand new nurses who are looking for their first job after nursing school. Many teaching hospitals offer a residency program for nurses to participate in for one year after the beginning of their employment. These programs meet monthly and are a way for new nurses to discuss struggles they may be having or learning issues they might be facing. Often there is a research project nurse residents complete specific to their area of practice. These programs are a great way to meet other new nurses and can often help ease the transition from being in school into working in nursing practice.
4. Participate in continuing education.
Many states require a certain number of CEU or continuing education unit hours to re-register as a licensed nurse. There are many local and national conferences nurses can go to for the latest topics in the nursing profession and within different specialty areas. Most hospitals, upon employment, allot nurses with a certain number of education hours they may use at their discretion and may reimburse for class or conference costs.
5. Go back to school.
Making the choice to go back to school is a huge decision. While some nurses may already know, specifically, what area they want to focus on during their time in nursing school, others may need a few working years under their belt to get a feel for different kinds of nursing practice. Masters programs range from specializing as a nurse practitioner or nurse educator to forensic nursing or public health. Getting an advanced degree may broaden your career options and opportunities. Many nurses continue to work full-time while getting their degree with the great advantage of tuition reimbursement from their employer.
Advancing your existing nursing knowledge is a great way to become an expert in your nursing specialty or to explore other paths in nursing you may want to take. It’s well known that nursing is one of the most trusted professions and patients appreciate the knowledge and skills you bring to their care. Take the time to find out what career opportunities exist within your place of employment and in your community.
Your first year working as a nurse is challenging, and your first holiday season is even more so. Oftentimes, the last thing you want to do is put on your scrubs and drive into work while your friends and family are celebrating without you. Unfortunately, every nurse has to work some holidays—it’s just part of the job. Here are eight tips to help you cope successfully with your first holiday season as a nurse.
Get ready to work at least some holidays.
Different facilities run their schedules differently, but one thing is for sure: You’re going to have to work at least some holidays throughout the year. At some hospitals, if you normally work that day of the week, then you work the holiday–period (unless you find someone gracious enough to swap shifts with you, of course). Other facilities pair holidays together—Thanksgiving with July 4, Memorial Day with Christmas, etc.—and you work one day and get the other off, alternating year over year. However, almost no nurse gets all the holidays off each year, so mentally prepare yourself to work on at least some of these days.
If you want to make swaps, do them in advance.
No one likes that coworker who tries to swap a holiday shift only days in advance, so don’t be that person! If you really want a particular holiday off, look into your facility’s shift-swapping protocol and reach out to your coworkers well in advance. It’s a big ask to request that someone else works on a holiday, so you might have to be willing to work a different special day. For example, you take their Thanksgiving shift while they pick up your Christmas one. And of course, it never hurts to sweeten the deal with some Christmas cookies while you’re at it.
Plan your schedule wisely.
Some nurses figure that if they have to work on a holiday, they might as well do three 12-hour shifts back-to-back and get their week over with. While this may sound tempting, be honest with yourself if this is something you can and want to do. Nursing is a tough profession emotionally and physically, and it can be even more so over the holidays–especially if you’re away from your family. If working three consecutive twelves is going to compromise your nursing work, or simply make you exhausted and sad, try to leave yourself some downtime in between shifts so you can spend time with friends and family. Take care of yourself, even if you can’t celebrate the day of the holiday.
Know how to get in touch with senior leadership.
Senior leaders often take or get off the holidays, so they won’t always be around to assist you in case of an emergency. Ask your supervisor what the protocol is for contacting out-of-office leadership in case a situation does arise. Make sure you know who will be quickly accessible and keep their contact info in an easy-to-reach place, such as your nursing bag, at all times. Hopefully nothing will happen, but staff is often spread a bit thin over the holidays and you want to be prepared ahead of time.
Ask others for help and minimize your commitments.
If you already have a holiday routine, it can be difficult to make the adjustment during your first holiday season as a nurse, especially if you’re usually the one doing all the work: cooking the big festive meals, gift shopping on other people’s behalf, hosting the annual holiday party, etc. But trying to do all that during your first year as a nurse will only make you tired and prone to burnout. Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family members for help or to back out of your usual activities. Be upfront about the demands of your nursing career, and give people plenty of heads up on what you can and can’t do. Of course, this isn’t to say you have to completely give up on everything. You can still make a side dish to bring to the party (for example), rather than hosting the entire thing.
Be prepared that your family might not understand.
Non-nurses don’t always understand the rigors of the work schedule, and this is especially true for those who work a regular 9-to-5 job and get holidays off. As soon as you know your holiday schedule (which should be pretty far in advance), communicate it to your family, explain why you won’t be able to join them the day of and offer to coordinate an alternative celebration either before or after the holiday itself. If they give you pushback, explain that everyone in your unit has to work some holidays each year without exception. More senior nurses will have gone through this routine many times, so don’t be afraid to turn to them for advice and encouragement on this matter.
Focus on the incentives.
Almost no one wants to work on a holiday, but the situation isn’t all negative. Many facilities provide overtime pay for working on a holiday, including Thanksgiving and Christmas, and they may offer other perks (such as a free meal in the cafeteria) as well. Put that extra money to good use by scheduling a fun activity after your holiday shift, such as a massage or art class, so you have something to look forward to and a way to reward yourself for all your hard work.
Don’t forget other people are missing the holidays, too.
Obviously, being away from friends and family during the holidays can be tough, but you’re not the only one. Up to a quarter of all Americans are required to work at least one winter holiday. Many other hospital staff, EMTs, firefighters, police officers, restaurant workers, and retail workers will put on their scrubs or uniforms and clock into work over the holidays. (And of course, your patients are missing the holidays as well and they’re sick and in the hospital on top of that.) If nothing else, remember that you’re not alone and that you’re helping other people—and possibly even saving lives—in the process.
Your first holiday season as a nurse may not be fun, but you can make it a lot less painful by preparing ahead of time. Follow these eight must-know tips to successfully weather the holidays as a working nurse for the first time.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” —Winston Churchill
New nurses must achieve myriad milestones. Most new nurses breathe a collective sigh of relief upon passing their licensure exam. However, this period of jubilation leads to the next milestone, which includes securing one’s first position and then embarking on the transition from newly licensed nurse through the transition. This transition—which is somewhat akin to a rite of passage—may be smooth sailing for some, something akin to mountain climbing for others, and somewhere in between these two extremes for the majority. No matter where you fall, there are many strategies that you can undertake to facilitate your transition from novice to experienced nurse.
Securing a position in a supportive workplace will certainly serve you well; however, even if conditions are not optimal, there are certain things you can do to make things better. Follow these strategies to ease your transition into the workplace.[et_bloom_inline optin_id=optin_18]
Engage in Self-Care
Nursing is a rewarding profession, yet it can also be quite stressful. Consequently, self-care is extremely beneficial. It’s important to get adequate rest, nutrition, and exercise. Other self-care strategies might include deep breathing and relaxation, yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, or journaling.
Utilize Crucial Conversations
As nurses we have no problem advocating for our patients, but it’s much harder advocating for one’s self. According to a 2009 study published in Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, 77% of nurses experienced disrespectful conversations but only 7% confronted the individual. Following the eight steps of Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High can be quite helpful when dealing with challenging situations such as bullying or confronting a preceptor who is not being very helpful. These include:
Get unstuck (assess the problem).
Start with heart (identify what is holding you back).
Learn to look (observe behaviors; identify stressors).
Make it safe (respect personal space, use effective communication).
Master my stories (stick to the facts; see both sides of issue).
State my path (tell your story; be persuasive not abrasive).
Explore others’ paths (compromise if possible).
Move to action (develop a positive action plan).
Following these steps may not solve all problems, but they do offer a systematic, practical way to address difficult situations.
Use Effective Written and Verbal Communication Skills
You learned about therapeutic communication in your nursing programs, so be sure to utilize effective and professional verbal, non-verbal, and written communications. Oftentimes, misunderstandings occur because of miscommunication. Social media policies should also be followed. Other communication strategies include:
Be a good listener;
Avoid jargon;
Speak clearly;
Be aware of tone, rate, and cadence;
Clarify and restate;
Always reread your messages before sending;
Pay attention to grammar and spelling.
Seek Out a Mentor
Mentors play a vital role in an individual’s professional and personal life. According to Fast Facts for Career Success in Nursing: Making the Most of Mentoring in a Nutshell, a mentor is someone who connects with and develops a reciprocal relationship with a protege and offers support and guidance. Finding a mentor can be challenging and requires one to be proactive and consider what one hopes to find in a mentor. You should approach the particular person with a formal request and a clear set of expectations.
Be an Advocate for Yourself and Your Patients
Patient advocacy comes natural to most of us; however, self-advocacy can be difficult. As a new nurse you will face some challenges and will need to learn self-efficacy, self-advocacy, empowerment, and resiliency. You can complete a resiliency quiz at www.resiliencyquiz.com. Learning the eight steps of “crucial conversations” can also be helpful to utilize when advocating for yourself and addressing issues such as bullying, workload, preceptors, and work environment. Your mentor can also offer guidance.
Improve Your Time Management and Organizational Skills
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges new nurses face is learning how to improve time management and organizational skills. As a new nurse it can be very easy to become overwhelmed as you leave the safety net of your instructors and are expected to manage more patients. Being punctual and setting the tone for the day will help keep you on track. Donna M. White, LMHC, CACP, recommends the following strategies to help you improve your time management skills:
Create a “to do” list;
Establish deadlines;
Avoid multitasking;
Delegate;
Reward yourself.
Develop Goals and Objectives
Developing daily, weekly, and even monthly goals is a great way to help you transition into your professional practice role. These goals can include a variety of topics. For example, you may include goals for improving time management, self-care, self-advocacy or clinical skills, critical thinking, and problem solving. A template for developing weekly transition goals can be found in my book, The Nurse Professional: Leveraging Your Education for Transition into Practice. When developing goals, you should also develop a five-year plan to help guide you through your transition and beyond.
In summary, the transition into professional practice can be challenging; however, there are strategies you can employ to help ease your transition.
Focus on the incentives.