Congratulations, you have survived nursing school. Now the real fun starts!

As you approach graduation, your focus may shift from school to finding the perfect job. Your first job out of school may seem scary. This is what you have been working so hard for. Your hardwork and dedication lead you to this point.  You will be a new nurse flying solo! 

Finding your “perfect” job may be difficult right after graduation. Some students get lucky and know exactly what specialty they want to go into. These specialities may include the emergency room or the operating room. Others may have no clue and that is totally ok! When applying for your first nursing job, be open minded but also do what is best for you. You want to find an area or specialty that fits you. There is no shame in moving to a different department if you are unhappy. Providing the best care for your patients is top priority so find an area you can work best in.  As a new grad, you want to focus on experiences. Everyday you will learn new skills and gain more confidence. 

It is important to remember that everything is new to you. Transitioning from student to nurse may be difficult. Allow yourself to be a NEW graduate nurse. Take it easy on yourself. You’re not going to master everything on your first day. Take a deep breath. If you can survive nursing school, you can survive anything!

Just remember some of this new grad advice and you will be just fine. 

Take this opportunity to be a sponge. Soak up everything you can while you are in orientation. You will learn a lot that might not have been covered in nursing school. Don’t be afraid to ask questions either! It is ok to feel overwhelmed or confused at times. Every nurse in your department was once a student so allow them to help.

Step out of your comfort zone! This will help build your confidence and skill set! Always seek out the difficult tasks or skills. You can take this opportunity to be instructed by a more experienced nurse and build your skillset.

Focus on time management and learning to prioritize. Work on learning which patients are most critical and delegate tasks when appropriate. 

Always clarify if you have doubts. We are all human and we make mistakes. Yes, even nurses make mistakes! If you are unfamiliar with something take the time to look it up. 

Get to know your co-workers. You don’t need to become best friends but this may help you feel more comfortable.   Listen to their experiences, ask for tips, and be a team player. Offer your help when needed. People help others who help them. Each day at work will get easier when you know you have a great group to support you! 

Self-care is extremely important. How can you take care of your patients if you aren’t taking care of yourself? Take bathroom breaks or eat that snack between tasks! Get enough sleep and don’t take work home with you. Nursing isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. You will have hard days. You may even want to quit at times.Just remind yourself why you started in the first place. What made you sign up for nursing school? Use this as motivation to push through those hard days and come out on top!

Your first year after graduation may be the hardest but it will fly by!  Soak up all the knowledge and experience you can. This career can truly change your life. Nursing will change the way you look at the world! Nursing gives you the skills and abilities that can be applied to many situations. Each day you will gain experiences that will move with you throughout your career. 

You should be proud of yourself! You have chosen a career path that many avoid. 

Congratulations and good luck on your new journey!