Now that you’ve graduated nursing school it’s time to start thinking about your career! Here are five career tips for new nurses.
Choose Wisely!
The first job you pick as a new nurse graduate can have a lasting effect on how you view the nursing profession. It is for this reason that is imperative that you choose your first job wisely.
As a new graduate nurse you may feel that you are less hirable than a nurse with years of experience. While this may be true in some specialties, many units, such as med-surg, are likely to greet you with open arms.
With that in mind, it is advisable that you apply for many job openings and keep your options open. You should weigh the pros and cons and think critically about each position for which you apply.
While one position may seem more appealing because it’s a day shift, a comparable position may start on night shift but have more upward growth in the long run.
Some questions to keep in mind:
- Is the hospital for profit or not for profit?
- What kind of benefits do they offer?
- Do they offer an appealing retirement plan?
- What is the patient to nurse ratio?
Those are just a few of many important, but often overlooked, ideas to explore.
Build A Network
As a new nurse you will meet so many new people! You will work with RNs, LVNs, CNAs, RTs, PTAs, hospital administrators (CEO, CNO, CFO), and many more important personnel.
At first, these individuals will be strangers. However, over time you can build strong relationships with these coworkers.
While you won’t get along perfectly with everyone, it is in your best interest to make friends with as many people as you can.
You never know when you may have to rely heavily on a coworker during an emergency situation. You also never know what kind of job possibilities will be presented to you in the future (or at least a great letter of recommendation) by one of your coworkers!
Another great reason to prioritize networking is that it gives you a greater sense of camaraderie and can help boost your morale when the going gets tough. It is easier to push through hard times when you have a strong network of support.
Set Goals
In nursing interviews you will often get asked “Where do you see yourself in five years?” While this may seem like an overwhelming question, it is imperative to think about your future and what goals you have.
Do you want to go back to school for your BSN or MSN? Is there a certain specialty you eventually want to transfer to? Do you envision yourself as a charge nurse or nurse manager one day?
Once you examine your interests, you can set up a plan to help you reach those goals. This may seem intuitive, but there are so many nurses who have let their initial dreams get washed away because they got caught up in their day-to-day lives.
There’s no saying your interests might change over time, but they are worth continuing to reassess so you don’t end up like the jaded nurses we all met. There are too many areas to explore in nursing to continue to work in an environment in which you no longer thrive.
Invest Time In Yourself
This isn’t exactly career advice, but it can help improve your performance at work and your career outlook.
The internet’s favorite word for this is “self-care”, but this is way more than just getting a mani & pedi when work has been particularly stressful.
We are talking about a daily investment. You need to take time out of every single day to help you find your center.
This investment will look different for each individual person, but there are some common threads that most individuals could benefit from. Try including the following in your routine:
- Exercise: 30-45 minutes, 3-5 times per week
- Meditation/prayer
- Preparing and eating healthy meals
- Making time for friends and family
- Hobbies
At the end of the day, you are going to be the one working your job. So you need to be at your best. If you are feeling burnt out and stressed, both you and your patients will suffer.
It’s not always easy finding “work-life balance”, but it is very much worth it.
Consider Alternatives
*Disclaimer* It may not be advisable or practical to do some of these things as a fresh baby nurse. However, they are important to keep in mind as you gain experience.
You are not limited to working a “typical” nursing job at a “typical“ place of employment (i.e. 3, 12 hour shifts on a med-surg unit at the community hospital).
While that “typical” job may be a great starting point, or even a viable long-term career, there are so many options that you can consider.
For instance, you could be a travel nurse! Many nurses know that travel nurses exist, but they never actually consider it an option for themselves.
Travel nursing isn’t necessarily ideal for a brand new nurse but after about 1-2 years of experience it is an option that can seriously be considered.
You also don’t have to commit to working to just one facility as a full-time employee. You can work part-time at one facility while also working PRN at one or two other facilities. This can break up the monotony, as well as broaden your network!
It is a simple idea, but again, some nurses don’t even consider the myriad of options they have!
You could work as an adjunct faculty member for a nursing program!
You could work as a summer camp nurse during the summer!
You could work as a school nurse at an elementary school, middle school, or high school!
You get the point. The possibilities are endless.
Happy Nursing!