What advice would you give to a nursing student or new nurse?

First and foremost, I hope you chose this career because you want to help people because sometimes this job isn't pretty. This job requires strength in mind as well as kindness from the heart. You will have days where your heart is full and days when you feel like you wish you could have done more. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. You will meet all kinds of people and you may make an instant connection with one patient while others jump on your last nerve. You are a Nurse, you have to keep it together and treat each person with dignity.

Open your mind and learn from everyone you work with. Life is a continual learning experience. No two patients or situations are exactly the same.

Ask questions. There are no dumb questions. Not asking could mean a missed opportunity to learn something. Even the most seasoned nurses learn new things. No one wants to teach someone who acts like they know it all.

If you are a nursing student, try a part-time job in the medical field to experience the atmosphere. It would be terrible to conquer nursing school only to find out that you can't stand touching people or caring for sick people. Jobs like phlebotomist and monitor tech usually require some schooling, but other jobs like a unit secretary or patient transport usually do not. A medical terminology course may be helpful. Working in a hospital gives you flexibility of time because the jobs are 24/7 and you may work evening shift or night shift to accommodate your studies.

If you don't know what kind of nursing you want to pursue, start in Medsurg or Telemetry in a TEACHING hospital to get a strong foundation before overspecializing. Not all hospitals are teaching hospitals. If you choose a specialty field too early, you may get stuck there because many positions require experience in that area within 2 years and training positions are harder to find.

Get certified in BLS (mandatory), ACLS (for ED/Telemetry), PALS (pediatrics/ED), NRP (Neonatal/L&D/ Maternal child), and/or ONCC (Oncology).

Travel nursing sounds glamorous, but as a travel nurse, you are expected to know what you are doing. I would recommend getting at least 1-2 years experience first. Being a travel nurse is not for nurses in training and you may only get 1 or 2 days of orientation to the unit(s) you are expected to work in and you may have to float to other units. You worked hard to get your license, don't jeopardize it by working without proper knowledge.

See my other blog about nurse malpractice insurance. Hopefully it is something you never need, but in the event you do, it could save you from losing money that you didn't have to!

And most of all...Take care of yourself!

How can you take care of others if you are not well? Please do not go to work sick. People come to the hospital because they are sick. Some are immunocompromised and it would be unfair for them to get sick from you. Get enough rest. If you are not well rested, you may not be at the top of your game - you could make a mistake.

...and if you work hard, treat yourself, you deserve it!