7 Tips On How To Prepare For Your First Day As A New Nurse

Get ready for your first day as a new nurse with these tips from an experienced intensive care nurse.

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You’ve made it. All those years of long lectures, 12 hour clinicals, and endless nights of studying are finally over. You found a job, applied, and were hired. First off, congratulations! You’ve probably been dreaming about this day for a few years and it’s good to look back and appreciate how far you’ve come. But as you know, things change fast and even though you are excited about graduating and being done with school, you might be feeling nervous for your first day of work as a real nurse. No worries, I was there roughly 5 years ago and I’m here to help you succeed on your first day and beyond! Here are 5 tips to help you prepare and succeed on your first day as a new nurse.

#1- Test out your commute

You probably rely on your phone to get you places and usually this works out okay. But the last thing you want is to get stuck in traffic, make a wrong turn, or show up at the wrong hospital. A couple days before your first shift, do a “test” run of your commute. Leave your house at the same time that you will for a shift (i.e. don’t do your test run at 4pm if your commute will be done in the early morning). Notice what traffic looks like, and see if your phone's estimated arrival time matches the time it actually takes you to get there. Also, know where to park. Some hospitals have strict parking policies, and you don’t want to be stuck searching for a parking spot on your first day. If you test out your commute and it doesn’t work out, you’ll still have time to find another route, or at least will know that you need to leave earlier than planned.

#2- Get a good night’s sleep

The best way to make your shift difficult is to be tired all day. It’s also one thing that is completely in your own control! Do something active that day before your shift, eat an early dinner, and be in bed with enough time to get 7-9 hours of sleep. This is the low-hanging fruit when it comes to making your first day as a new nurse go smoothly and isn’t something you should overlook or underestimate!

#3- Show up early

This seems obvious, but it needs to be said. Showing up late on your first day is an easy way for your management and new co-workers to have a bad first impression of you. By showing up early (I would suggest at least 30 minutes prior to the start of your shift), you show everyone that you are a responsible nurse who they can count on to be a good employee and co-worker. Also, you can usually find a spare computer to look up your patients before the shift starts. You are probably still getting used to the electronic health record that your new hospital uses, and this extra time can help you to feel better about maneuvering the new computer system. You’ll also know a lot about your patients before you even receive report, which can help settle your nerves on your first day as a new nurse.

#4- Bring a notebook and use it

This is my favorite tip for new nurses for a few reasons. First, you can use this notebook to take notes on everything your preceptor tells you. You will be nervous on your first day and that will make you more likely to forget some things that are being taught to you. By writing them down, you can review what you learned at the end of the day which will help you retain this new information. Another effect this has is it shows your new coworkers that you really want to learn and care about doing a good job. They will be impressed with your effort and that will help them to have a higher opinion of you. And what is better than coworkers who you can get along with? So grab a small notebook and get to writing.

#5- Pack your lunch

This is one that you might not think of as a new nurse but will definitely help ease some of the struggles of a new nursing job. Getting food in a hospital can sometimes be a time-intensive process. If you work dayshift, there are likely hundreds of patient family members/friends, other nurses, physicians, etc. who will also be trying to buy lunch at the same time as you. The stress of worrying about not having enough time to eat will only make matters worse for you on your first day as a new nurse. So pack your lunch the night before so you can grab it, sit down, relax, and get back out on the floor when you are done.

#6- Ask for feedback

At the end of your shift, ask your preceptor how you did. While this can be intimidating, it is a great way to learn and grow as a new nurse. They will appreciate the fact that you want to learn and get better. It can also give you things to think about and continue to work on as you get more comfortable in your new position.

#7- Have realistic expectations

As much as you want it to happen, your first shift will not be perfect. You might feel awkward talking to patients. Or struggle to make small talk with your new coworkers. Or struggle to explain something to a doctor. Or all 3 of these things. If you think your first shift as a new nurse will be perfect, you will be let down. But if you go in with realistic expectations, and don’t sweat the small stuff (it happens to all of us), then your day will be that much better.

Conclusion

If you follow these 7 tips, then I guarantee that your first shift as a new nurse will be great! You’ve reached a huge milestone and now you are on the journey to become the nurse you’ve always wanted to be. Preparation is the key to success, and these tips will lead you to success on your first day as a new nurse!