150 Tips and Tricks for New Nurses: Balance a hectic schedule and get the sleep you need…Avoid illness and stay positive…Continue your education and keep up with medical advances
By Kathy Quan
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About this ebook
- balance a hectic new schedule (for work, sleep, and life)
- deal with doctors
- avoid illness themselves
- continue education while working
- cope with death of patients (the first time, and after)
- and more
Kathy Quan
An Adams Media author.
Read more from Kathy Quan
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150 Tips and Tricks for New Nurses - Kathy Quan
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New
Nurses
9781598697766_0002_001Il_9781598697766_0002_002 Find a healthy work-to-life balance
Il_9781598697766_0002_003 Develop good patient and coworker relations
Il_9781598697766_0002_004 Stay informed in this ever-changing field
Kathy Quan, RN, BSN, PHN
9781598697766_0002_005Copyright © 2009 Simon and Schuster
All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any
form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are
made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.
Contains material adapted and abridged from The Everything® New Nurse Book, by Kathy Quan, RN, BSN, PHN, © 2006 Simon and Schuster, ISBN 10: 1-59337-532-8, ISBN 13: 978-1-59337-532-4.
Published by
Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com
ISBN 10: 1-59869-776-5
ISBN 13: 978-1-59869-776-6
eISBN: 978-1-44052-045-7
Printed in the United States of America.
J I H G F E D C B A
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
is available from the publisher.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.
—From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations
This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, please call 1-800-289-0963.
Contents
Introduction
Part 1 • The Responsibilities of a New Nurse
1. Pick the Type of Nurse You Want to Be
2. Choose Your Nursing Role
3. Remember to Do No Harm
4. Avoid Legal Trouble
5. Know Your Scope of Practice
6. Read Your State’s Nurse Practice Act (NPA)
7. Be a Nursing Ambassador
8. Nurses Never Diagnose
9. Remember Why You Became a Nurse
10. Nurses Educate and Advocate
11. Nursing Is a Profession
12. Take the Good and the Bad
13. Put Your Computer Skills to Work
14. All Nurses Are Real
Nurses
15. There’s a Wealth of Opportunities for New Nurses
Part 2 • Starting Off on the Right Foot
16. Work at a Large Teaching Hospital
17. You’ll Learn a Lot on the Job
18. Get a Strong General Background
19. Specialize When You Are Ready
20. Be Aware of Options Outside the Hospital
21. Think Twice about Sign-On Bonuses
22. Check Your Equipment
23. A Drug Book Is Essential
24. Get Some Comfortable Shoes
25. Prepare for Your First Day
26. Make the Most of Orientation
27. Pay Attention and Take Notes
28. Make Some New Friends
29. Locate Your Reference Manuals
30. Learn Where to Find What You Need
Part 3 • Handling On-the-Job Issues
31. Put Your Best Foot Forward
32. Earn the Respect of Your New Coworkers
33. Accept the Demands of Being the Newbie
34. Patients Will Question Your Age
35. Never Be Afraid to Ask
36. The Whole Team Is a Resource
37. Maintain a Professional Appearance
38. Good Grooming Helps Limit Infections
39. Minimize Perfume and Smoke
40. Respect the Value of Time
41. You Won’t Faint at the Sight of Blood
42. You Will Get Used to the Smell of Hospitals
43. Face Open Wounds Without Fear
44. Use Gum or Mints to Mask Unpleasant Smells
45. Working Holiday Shifts Can Be Fun
Part 4 • Teamwork Works
46. Be Aware of Office Politics
47. Gossip Is Inevitable
48. Support the Team
49. Look for the Good in Everyone
50. Be Ready to Give and Take
51. Chart Your Own Course
52. Trust Your Instincts
53. Learn When to Delegate
54. Know Your Staff’s Capabilities
55. Help Patients Understand the Nurse’s Role
56. Patient Care Is a Joint Effort
57. Remember Your Common Goal
58. The Team Leader Keeps the Team on Track
59. Try Not to Leave Projects for the Next Shift
60. No One Is Above Doing the Dirty Work
Part 5 • The Ongoing Learning Process
61. Learn When to Say No
62. Use Your Policy and Procedure (P&P) Manual
63. Know the Five Rights
of Medications
64. Follow Your Patient Safety Rules
65. Take Responsibility When an Error Occurs
66. You Will Survive Your First Mistake
67. Implement the Nursing Diagnosis
68. Care Plans Keep the Team Informed
69. Be Aware of Cultural Differences
70. Clinical Pathways Help Coordinate Patient Care
71. Be Open to New Ways of Doing Things
72. Remember That Patients Are People
73. Picture Yourself as a Patient
74. Losing a Patient Is Always Difficult
75. It’s Okay to Cry Sometimes
Part 6 • Communicating with Patients and Their Families
76. Discharge Planning Starts at Admission
77. Listen to Difficult Family Members
78. Keep the Family Informed
79. Don’t Be Afraid to Get Emotionally Involved
80. Acknowledge the Stages of Grief
81. Patients’ Families May Disagree
82. Honor the Family’s Wishes
83. Respect the Patient’s Rights
84. Take the Time to Educate Your Patients
85. Involve Patients in Their Own Health Care
86. Combine Visual Demonstrations with Verbal Instructions
87. Look at the Whole Patient
88. Beware of Misinformation
89. Figure Out What the Patient Does Know
90. Involve the Family in Discharge Planning
Part 7 • Communication with Doctors
91. Doctors Just Want the Facts
92. Expect to Be Treated with Respect
93. Earn the Doctors’ Trust
94. You May Encounter Arrogant Attitudes
95. Handle Egos with Care
96. Times Are Changing
97. Remain Professional at All Times
98. Report Abusive Behavior
99. Stand Up for Yourself
100. Seek Out Mentors
101. Be a Good Student
102. Listen to Others but Think for Yourself
103. Exercise Caution in Personal Relationships
104. Dating a Doctor Poses Special Problems
105. Never Judge by Appearances: Two Examples
Part 8 • Take Care of Yourself
106. Recognize That You Will Get Sick
107. Wash Your Hands Frequently
108. Build Up Your Body’s Defenses
109. Teach Your Patients to Protect Themselves and Others
110. Remember That You Cannot Do Everything
111. Get Some Perspective
112. Practice Relaxation
113. Use Proper Body Mechanics
114. Avoid Needle Sticks
115. Use Your Sick Days
116. Don’t Forget Your Basic Needs
117. Take a Break to Prevent Burnout
118. Reward Yourself with Things You Enjoy
119. Try Various Techniques to Manage Your Stress
120. Remember Your Own Health Care
Part 9 • Staying on Top of Documentation
121. Good Writing Skills Are Essential
122. Remember to Document as You Go Along
123. Strive for Accuracy and Timeliness
124. Share Information by Reporting Off
125. Record Everything in Writing
126. Omissions Are the Same as Errors
127. Medical Records Are Legal Documents
128. Be Descriptive
129. Information from the Patient Is Subjective
130. Adhere to Your Facility’s Policies
131. Protect Your Patients’ Privacy
132. Don’t Rely on Your Memory
133. Take Advantage of Documentation Technology
134. Develop a System to Organize Your Notes
135. Paperwork Is Just Part of Being a Nurse
Part 10 • Keep an Eye on Your Future
136. Learn from as Many Sources as Possible
137. Attend Workshops and Seminars
138. Find Opportunities to Improve Your Skills
139. Stay Up-to-Date with Pharmacology
140. Watch for New Treatments and Products
141. Remember That Health Care Is Constantly Evolving
142. Consider Earning an Advanced Degree
143. Broaden Your Horizons with Specialty Training
144. You Could Be a Nurse Entrepreneur
145. Join a Professional Organization
146. Work on Networking
147. Print Up Some Business Cards
148. Be Actively Involved
149. Try Moving to Another Department
150. Focus on What You Love, and Build on Your Strengths
Appendix A: Glossary of Terms and Acronyms
Appendix B: Additional Reading
Appendix C: Websites
Introduction
The Professional Caregiver
Welcome to the world of nursing. As you embark on your new career, know that you have made a wise and wonderful choice to give of yourself to help make a difference in someone’s life every day. Nursing is one of the most rewarding and yet challenging careers. Nursing can be a thankless job, but at the same time, it can bring you countless hours of joy and some of the most heartfelt love.
Nursing is one of the most physically and emotionally demanding careers. You will require a great deal of physical stamina and a strong sense of humor to perform your daily duties. Nurses combine the art of caring with a strong scientific knowledge base to provide care, promote wellness, and improve the lives of their patients. It takes strong communication skills, both written and oral, combined with a scientific mind and a warm heart and soul to form the foundation for a good nurse.
This book is based on the experiences