1. Orientation Skills
Learn new employee orientation skills such as anticipating, recognizing, and meeting customers' needs. At the end of your orientation if you don't feel comfortable working without your mentor ask to be reoriented by the staff education department.
2. Mentor is Your Guide
Find an experienced, senior-level nurse with a real desire in giving his or her time to mentor you. By working closely and with keen observation you can develop your knowledge, skills, attitude and intuition. If you aren't satisfied speak to the unit manager about getting a new mentor.
3. Cliques Don't Matter
Don't get hooked up in any cliques. Observe the dynamics of the unit and assess the situation to see if there is a better way to handle the situation. Don't jump too quickly to a conclusion. Ask for clarification if needed.
4. One With Your Team
Create positive relationships with your co-workers. Performance problems results from difficult relationships with co-workers though most of the time employees do their job motivated, More than poor quality work what hinders an organisation is not working effectively with other people. Therefore build goodwill by offering to help colleagues in a difficult situation and they are bound to return the favor. Get to know your coworkers. Being part of the team could prevent you from being dumped.
5. Ask Questions
Ask lots of questions, but not over and over again. Don't ever be afraid to ask questions which benefits both you and the person you're asking. Asking questions is a way of preventing mistakes. Keep a small notebook for the information you're gaining. Learn where things are.
6. Learn to Observe
You can learn a great deal by watching experts on your unit or in your practice setting. How they arrive at an agreement, handle patients who are too difficult to handle and interact with physicians. Once you are familiar with the day-to-day operation of your position, volunteer for projects that will help you gain more experience.
7. Setting up Priorities
It's always helpful to know what you want as it would help to make decisions easier. Learn to evaluate critical needs and delegate tasks so that someone else can handle, such as transporting a discharge patient. If you haven't clarified what you want, begin to describe it now. It will help you in your first meetings with your nursing supervisor. As a new employee you could have a much clearer vision of what is going on and can help improve existing sluggish processes.
8. Be Friendly with All
Do not sound aloof in meeting new people. To your friends be a warm, friendly person. Don't think you're above the maintenance staff, unit secretaries or patient-care technicians who can destroy you if you get on their bad side. Interact with nursing managers who set policies for smooth functioning.
9. Avoid Stress
Learn to destress as constant stress can lead to a number of physical and psychological problems, like poor concentration, depression, back pain and weight gain. It also weakens your immune system and increases your risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease. Nor does it make you a better nurse.
10. Don't Misjudge New Position
You are sometimes frustrated listening to patients concerns and in treating them. When you get discouraged don't think you made wrong career choice. You need time to adapt to your new role as a professional which can take a good six months to a year to feel part of a normal work situation.
