There are a lot of new grads walking the hallways of my hospital, and I always tell them to speak up and not let others push them around. I just wondering, what words of wisdom do you give to new grads?

MJ

Being a fairly recent grad myself (2 yrs ago) I always tell students to ask ask ask, no question is stupid...the more you ask the better people are going to feel about you and your practice. I learned the hard way but got through it and love where I work now.

Always chart with a jury in mind. When something happens and you chart about it, re-read what you wrote and ask yourself if it would stand up in court.

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code blog

Good advice Geena, and I might add..... "if you didn't chart it, you didn't do it."

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www.MyOwnWoman.blogspot.com

Now that I use paper charting I just to try to write stuff as unintelligibly as possible so no one can question what I did.


ONLY KIDDING PEOPLE!!!


Seriously, though, I tell newbie nurses to not be too hard on themselves. No matter what, the first two years of nursing are going to be the most difficult, so you have to congratulate yourself just for the sheer act of surviving them.

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http://pixelrn.com
http://orientedx3.com

Oh, you should hear some of the stupid questions that get asked in our class. There are definatly stupid questions!

That is a good suggestion about charting with the jury in mind (although, is our practice that bad that we have to be like this). We were told of a case where the nurse had written in the notes 'NBFB', the notes went to court due to a neglegence case. The nurse was called up to testify and was asked what she meant by NBFB (as no one could work out what it meant). With a red face she said 'Not Bad For Bainsdale (a town nearby)' Meaning that the guy was good looking, unlike most people in the small town. So my advice is only chart things which are related to your patients care and leave fighting over the good looking footballers to handover .

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'Think not of yourself as the architect of your career but as the sculptor. Expect to have to do a lot of hard hammering and chiselingand scraping and polishing. - BC Forbes'

NBFB - snort. Heehee. That's funny.

We had a nurse chart "Pt is not a happy camper" when a baby was crying. Sigh...........

I like the advice about charting. I don't know how many times I quote that to new staff - I sound like a broken record.

I also tell the new nurses to not be afraid of the physicians. The have to wipe their butt after a poop just like the rest of us. That usually makes them giggle and relax a little.

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Julie

My Blog ER RN

I'm loving these bits of advice - and they are all true!

NBFB? "Not a happy camper" - LOL!

The first year is the hardest, but I had an older nurse tell me that no matter how bad it seems, the shift will end and you will take home experience that will help you the next time things become hectic.

I clung to that "eventually the shift will be over" mantra many a time during the last 30 years!

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The ER is the only place where you are rewarded for efficiency by getting more patients!

Kim
http://www.emergiblog.com

We had a Travel Nurse chart, "Small amt. of pussy drainage noted from end of penis". This was during our Joint Commission Survey! The next night when the same nurse came on duty, the nurses told her the Joint Commission folks wanted to talk to her about her charting. This was NOT true...but the look of SHOCK on her face was 'Priceless'. Thankfully this travel nurse had a Great sense of humor and we ALL had a belly laugh with her.
JaneH, RN

That is just classic!

Welcome to Nursing Voices by the Way JaneH RN!

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Julie
http://www.lifeinthenhs.wordpress.com