[sacbr1027]

****o,
I'm a student nurse and will graduate in May. I realize the importance of having peers to learn from. I know the importance of respect and I'm not sure the best approach. Is it better to be really friendly, reserved, ask alot of questions, etc? Please give me some ideas.
Thanks,
S

[nursinghumor]

#1: Carry your weight. We each have an assignment and are expected to complete (most) of it by end of shift. Early on, try to complete as much as you can each shift. Some nurses habitually leave work for the next shift that reasonable could have been completed.

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#2: Think the most important lesson to learn is know when you're getting overwhelmed and need help.

I'd be more comfortable with a new nurse that asked me about a potentially crashing patient, than one who didn't know their patient was about to code. There are telltale signs, then there are gut feelings and instincts that you'll learn to follow. When in doubt about a patient's condition, do ask.

Yes, there are nurses that will bite your head off, and yes there are others that will listen and help.

The nurses you'll be working with have been taking care of patients and learning what they needed to watch out for all along. They don't expect you to know it all fresh out of school. They do expect you to know the basics, how to put in foleys, basic woundcare, bathing, enemas, etc. This can be difficult as some students are only required to put in a single foley if that . . . .

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3: Take every opportunity as a SN, GN and new nurse: You learn by doing, again and again and again.

If a nurse is changing a central line dressing, packing a surgical wound, rectal tube, etc. Ask your instructor/preceptor if you can watch and or do it once you are comfortable.

Too often I've offered to let students do things for my patients and had them turn me down saying they haven't covered it yet, or already did it ONCE.

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Hope that helps,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nurses Views of The Nursing Profession
http://www.nursefriendly.com/views

[medi]

In addition to Andrew's excellent advise I'd just add a few thoughts...

You asked, "Is it better to be really friendly, reserved, ask alot of questions, etc?"

I'd suggest that you be yourself. You're going to be working with these people for a while (hopefully) so there's no sense "trying" to be anything but you.

* Be a good listener. Your preceptor and experienced peers are trying to guide you. Listen carefully and observe, Definitely ask questions when you need something explained and don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it.

As Andrew already suggested, carry your assigned load, and if possible try to do or learn a little something extra every time that you can.

Go beyond the assignments given to you if you're able to & spend a little time on your own learning additional things that will be useful.. such as learning what's stocked in the unit's crash cart, supply rooms, familiarizing yourself with the equipment more & more each day so you'll know what's on hand & where it is when its needed.

You can learn something from just about everyone you work with including your nursing assistants. Be open to learning... and to offering to help others out as well and you'll earn the respect you want to have.

Best wishes & please do keep us updated on how things are going ok?
Sara

[smbrn]

I feel sorry for new nurses these days. Patients are so much more complex than the ones out on the floors when I first started and I had a lot more clinical experience in school than today's new nurses. Just try hard and ask for help if you need it. Never be afraid to ask a "stupid question". I've been at this a long time and still ask what someone else might consider a dumb question, but that's how you learn. Just be yourself. Take people who might be short tempered with a grain of salt, although you need not take abuse from anyone. Keep in contact with your nurse manager about how you feel you're doing and areas you'd like to improve on. He/she has the most desire to see you do well and stay on his/her floor and learn. You can also be a source of new info to the regular staff since you're fresh out of the box! Good luck.