Nursing school can be very difficult. Just ask any nurse who has endured it and made it through. It takes time, patience, and determination to complete nursing school since it requires acquiring clinical expertise, knowledge, and outstanding clinical judgment. A nursing degree, unlike "normal" college degrees, requires countless hours of hands-on training, which means you may spend 6–8 hours per day, two or three times per week, at a hospital. Along with the usual activities like studying, taking tests, and more studying.
But how ready are you to work in your field without the supervision of clinical instructors? When they work as registered nurses in hospitals and clinics, many nurses first see the discrepancy between what is taught in school and what is really practiced. Here are important lessons that you’ll learn in the real world of nursing outside of school.
Controlling Stress
Students experience stress because of the intense learning load even in nursing school. Healthy coping mechanisms are not, however, covered in the classroom. You'll need to understand how to handle workplace stress and pick up tips from coworkers and studies. Either you develop coping mechanisms or you succumb to the typical stress reactions, such as overeating, under-eating, worrying, skipping sleep, and burning out.
Managing physicians
Doctors come in a variety of personalities. While some are helpful, others will try your patience. Do not let a doctor's rudeness undermine your confidence, no matter how unpleasant they may be. Be steadfast in your choices and activities.
Don't take it personally if a doctor treats you badly. Always act professionally and keep the needs of your patients first. You must devise a method for interacting with reluctant doctors, and you can only do this by trial and error.
Delegating Tasks
Surely you've heard of, "If you want something done correctly, do it yourself," but thankfully — or perhaps, fortunately — that's simply not possible.
However, delegating responsibilities to others is not always simple, especially if they are more senior or knowledgeable. However, it's crucial to be able to assign tasks since you want to make sure the appropriate individual is working on the appropriate task in every situation.
Excellent communication
Both new nurses and seasoned nurses need to know this. Aiming to comprehend, listen, and address the problems, questions, and opinions of others while interacting with patients, coworkers, and management is the foundation of effective communication.
It can be challenging to know when and how to say no, particularly given that nursing is a customer service profession. It's crucial to go over your shift's plans with your patients, as well as any anticipated outcomes, objectives, and potential events.
Professional Conduct When Quitting Your Job
Resigning may be your only choice if you realize that your position is simply not a good fit for you. Make sure you are aware of how much notice you must give if you intend to quit your job.
Some hospitals ask for two weeks, while others ask for four. The best course of action is to speak with both your nurse management and HR department.
Your resignation and the reasons for it should be stated in a letter. Although it is not necessary, you can share your reasoning if you feel comfortable doing so. The letter's professionalism is crucial if you want to increase your chances of being recruited again by the hospital in the future.
As a new nurse, you may experience a wide range of feelings, including overwhelm, excitement, fear, nervousness, unsureness, and even confidence. Although most people will claim that confidence is a flimsy emotion.
Over the course of their first several years at the bedside, new nurses must negotiate a great number of obstacles. You can achieve this by attempting to lean into the job, learning from more experienced nurses, and comprehending interpersonal relationships.
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Photo Source: Doctor with young girl patient-photo created by Fatcamera- www.istock.com
