Graduating from nursing school, passing the NCLEX, and beginning a nursing career all during COVID-19 was challenging to say the least. Regardless of the global pandemic, the transition from a nursing student to a competent registered nurse (RN) was grueling. As expected, the first six months of my career were filled with mishaps and unplanned learning experiences, but through all the challenges, I found these six things to be true.
- Believing in your management can make a world of difference. I truly feel blessed to have an amazing manager at my hospital who is clear about expectations and offers constructive criticism—the key word being constructive. After roughly six months, I was floated to another unit and quickly realized that the steps my manager took to keep staff well informed on the hospital’s COVID-19 cases were not the facility-wide expectation. When you take your first job as a licensed RN, be confident in your leadership.
- Nursing is a 24/7 job, but not just for you. There is a reason there are multiple shifts. It is undeniably impossible to complete all of a patient’s necessary tasks while also ensuring all documentation is done in just 12 hours. I have seen many new nurses unable to surrender tasks to the next shifts (including myself), or worse yet, they feel they failed for not getting that last wound care done. Twelve hours is already too hard on your mind and body—don’t make it 13.
- No. No is a full sentence. This is similar to my previous point, with the way nursing is as a profession (constantly in a shortage). You will be asked often if you can pick up an extra shift or stay late. Working 12 hours is a very long time. Know where your limits are and when it is time to go home.
- Did you grow up with the phrase, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me”? Well, that is a lie. The words and tone we choose to use with co-workers, whether they are nurses or not, are important. During my first stroke code, I felt like a failure. It seemed every physician in a 100-mile radius was in that room and wanted to ask me specific questions that I’d only know with an electronic medical record open in front of me. In the middle of the event, a senior nurse set up the 12-lead EKG while I attempted to obtain another neuro exam. For one quick moment, the nurse across from the patient stopped me, took my hand, and said, “You’re doing a great job. Take a breath and continue.” That moment changed my entire outlook and allowed me to better care for my patient. Never underestimate a kind word in a chaotic situation.
- Nursing is a career of moments. My father used to say this when he worked as an emergency room nurse after difficult shifts. Throughout your shifts, you are guaranteed to have positive and negative experiences—it comes with the job of caring for people at their worst. Lately, I’m feeling the effects of burnout myself. As COVID-19 cases (thankfully) begin to decline, I noticed the adrenaline fade, and compassion fatigue set in. Something that has helped me so much to combat these emotions is to stop and enjoy the good moments—the moments where I remember why I started nursing. Recently, I was taking care of a woman who was close to passing away. I went in to give her medications through the Dobhoff tube, and she opened her eyes and held out her hand. I sat down next to her and held her hand while whispering, “I like holding hands, too.” Remember these moments. They are the ones that make the job worth it.
- Lastly, self-care is necessary, more than I thought. I saw self-care as maintaining healthy habits and staying active as much as possible, but after three, 12-hour shifts on my feet, that quickly changed. I now find that sometimes the best self-care is sleeping in and giving your body the rest it needs. Cherish the days you have off. Say no to the overtime. Your time off is yours, unapologetically.
You got this, my friend. I see you, and I know it’s not easy. Know this though, above all else—you are smart. You are loved. And you are one amazing nurse.
Madison Germuska, BSN, RN is a registered nurse at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut, USA, and she is a member of Sigma’s Omicron Rho Chapter.