This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Knowing what to write comes from the daily experience of completing procedures and learning from mistakes. Here are 101 essential survival tips every new nurse must know: 1. It may take a year or two before you finally get the hang of the nursing practice, but you will get there. Aside from being a Registered Nurse, Jamille is also a story-teller and a hopeful dreamer. Your first day at work is so full of promises, yet the fear of uncertainty somehow gathers dark clouds into your head. There are three items that are critical for success in the OR: pens, a pocket-sized notebook, and scissors. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Based on national surveys, school nurses make an average salary of $45,000, staff nurses make an average of $55,000 annually and travel nurses can make more than $70,000 per year. You’re not going to master every hospital protocol and procedures at first try, and that is totally okay. Training to work in the OR is typically a combination of classroom education that teaches the basics of surgery and hands-on experiences in the OR with preceptors. The moment has come when you can now put every theory you’ve learned into practice. Surgeries can go from calm to chaos at the flip of a switch, and even seasoned OR nurses can become overwhelmed. Your email address will not be published. Remember, there will be tough times, but we know that you are a tougher nurse! It fits into a scrub top pocket, allowing you to easily reference it throughout the shift and keep important information readily available. Once you are on your own, you will be able to choose the ways that work best for your personality and time management preferences. There are many things that cannot be taught, but instead must be learned through individual experiences. The personality of the surgical team – is it serious, personable, or education-focused. I adore hospitals who mandate their new nurses to rotate on all their nursing areas during their first few months. Take time to de-stress, it will make you become a better nurse. Nurses at any school should expect to spend plenty of time interacting with students, both one-on-one with patients and in larger groups as they provide screening or education. It’s really quite a relief to feel how kind and willing they all are to teach me. Over time, nurses will adjust to the communication style and no longer perceive certain tones as a personal offense. But now, after all the prayers and perseverance, the moment you only used to daydream about have finally come. For this new nurse tip, just be sure to find the best nursing area that fits your personality or where you think you can work best. A pocket-sized notebook is an inexpensive must-have item for the OR. Observe the activities done in each area, … Go ahead and get to know the maintenance staff, unit secretaries, or patient-care assistants, too. Each nurse has a unique experience that can provide insight on how to deal with specific situations or offer tips for completing a task. Nurses can find tips and ideas, as well as information about national programs that can help them to improve the overall health of their school and its students. Never let a mistake deter you from continuing to pursue your OR career. Remember, it is always better to ask and learn than not to ask at all and end up doing something wrong. Just take a deep breath, and never let anxiety to get the best of you. A 20-year RN gave me the best advice for new nurses, she said: “Don’t be afraid or shy to look back at your nursing books to refresh your memory. Knowing your resources and who to ask for help is a critical aspect of OR nursing.