[jessnccu5801]

Nurses, what can I look forward to or look out for when (not if)I pass the NCLEX with flying colors and graduate?

What aspect of nursing was the most difficult for you to become adjusted to?
What are you still having problems with?
Is there anything that you would recommend to nursing students to help them with the transition from clinicals to actual employment?

I look forward to your comments!!!

[Aaron C.]

Well, one thing to look forward to is actually getting paid for all those "clinical hours" you put in!!!!!!!!

[nursinghumor]

Expect to work your tail off, expect to go home in tears several shifts per week, expect to wake up in the middle of the night pondering things you didn't get done, or didn't do right during your shift.

And, expect to love every minute if you are cut out for nursing. Otherwise, you'll find reasons to leave the field very quickly. It is not for everyone, and those first months will determine if it is for you. Learn to ask questions when you need to for your patients sake. They are what it is all about.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.4nursing.com

[cassioo]

expect to hear pump alarms in your sleep.

expect that not everyone is going to be nice.. patients, families and co-workers but you get what you give most of the time so don't get in with the bickering, gossip, back stabbing etc.

don't get too comfortable not matter how much experience you have because it will come back and bite you in the butt as soon as you think you have everything in control and have seen it all

have fun at work.

I found it hardest to adjust to swing shifts with 3 little kids..I'd done shift work before but straight days or nights but now I haven't work a night shift since July 4 and probably won't unless I choose to in the near future.

do unto others...if you do need to trade a shift and someone trades with you remember that when they need a trade but don't be a push over either and take all of other peoples bad shifts if they won't take yours too.

learn from everyone there's more then one way to do many things as long as it's correct in the end. keep the ideas that work for you and don't do the ones that don't work for you as long as it's right in the end

be willing to help your co-workers and things will go much smoother just because you're a RN now doesn't mean you're too good to put someone on a bedpan or wipe a butt or walk someone in the hall. (I had a RN walk out of a room when I was a student and say go put them on the bedpan and I swore I'd never do that to a co-worker and I never have)

be prepared for tired feet and legs get good shoes and support hose if needed.

try to avoid the junk food you might have to stuff in instead of lunch when that's all the time you have take carrot sticks you can grab