Diverse Perspectives & Advocacy
15 Things They Didn’t Tell You in Nursing School, Part II
December 9, 2020
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In Part I of 25 Things They Didn't Tell You in Nursing School (But We Will), we shared 25 things that you’d likely learn after graduating nursing school. We told you that simply because nursing school might be over, it doesn’t mean that there’s not more to learn.
Below, here are 15 more things that they didn’t tell you in nursing school, that we’re sharing with you here.
Unfortunately, at some hospitals nurses still “eat their young,” meaning the veteran nurses precepting are particularly hard on and even bully newer nurses. This can certainly happen as a new grad nurse. Please know that you do not have to tolerate bullying, and you must notify your manager if it occurs.
If that does not address the problem, your director of nursing or the facility's HR are other options as well. Ideally, your employer will have a “zero tolerance policy,” where employees are comfortable going to managers with conflicts.
Real-life nursing can be high-stress and high-stakes. Nursing school was difficult because it prepares students to care for the lives of other humans! Doctors can get stressed out as well, and sometimes this stress is taken out on the unsuspecting nurse. Don’t take it personally, and be resilient.
This can be tricky at first, and you may lack confidence in the beginning. This is where your preceptor or colleagues can help. Ask for their opinions, ask what they would do in a given situation, and always keep your manager in the loop as well.
Eat a good breakfast and make sure to bring your water and snacks!
Nurses come in all shapes and sizes, ages and backgrounds. Don’t be afraid of this diversity, embrace it!
Whether it be a coworker or a significant other, you’ll need someone to talk with to clear your head from the stress and fast pace of the job.
As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
Sights, sounds, and smells are all part of the job. Peppermint or eucalyptus oil under your nose can help lessen the smells.
As touched upon in Part I of this series.
Eventually YOU will be the preceptor! As crazy as it sounds now, a time will come when colleagues or students will come to you with questions. Yes, the first year is the hardest by far.
This also pertains to changing specialities: the first year in a new specialty is the most challenging. Have faith that your knowledge base and experiences will expand over time… because they will!
This will keep you going. If it doesn’t keep you coming back for more; that’s ok, but try to give it a whole year to see if shifts get easier. Most grads want to help others and want to make a difference in peoples’ lives when they are most vulnerable… and that is a very valid and important “why.”
Nurses have to stay up to date on new protocols and treatments in the ever-evolving field of healthcare. Take it in stride and remember that staying current within your specialty is expected for the safety of your patients and everyone around you.
The first year is the hardest for a reason — it’s very different from the textbooks and skills labs that comprise nursing school. It’s also very different from clinicals, as you are the one solely responsible. Patience with yourself will benefit you in the long run. Yes, you will be unsure a lot in the first few years but remember you have nursing resources.
The worst way of coping is beating yourself up for not knowing something. Some new nurses write down topics they’re unsure about over the course of the shift. When they get home they look up in nursing books everything they wrote down.
This helps with connecting “real-life” nursing with the “textbook” nursing. It might not work for everyone, but it is one way to increase your knowledge base and learn from actual scenarios.
There are many ways to deal with difficult patients; remember most times it doesn’t reflect who you are as a person or your nursing skills. Some patients may lack the coping skills to process their own illness or situation. Be patient.
When I was a new nurse, I went on a lunch break (I know, unheard of, it was a really good day!). As soon as I returned to the nursing floor, I had a gut feeling to check on one of her patients right away… this was before hourly rounding protocols.
It turned out the patient had had a stroke. The Stroke Alert was called, and luckily it was caught in time. If a longer delay had occurred in checking on the patient, the stroke could have progressed. This is an example of listening to your gut, it doesn’t matter that you’re new, your intuition isn’t.
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