New nurses can feel confident by learning to focus on their strengths, knowing that they have the support and resources of their colleagues and supervisors, and by accepting that they will make mistakes.
The first step to being a confident nurse is understanding what makes you unique as a person. Many people have succeeded in nursing, and there are many paths that lead to success. You need to find your own path and learn what works for you, rather than trying to be someone else's idea of a good nurse.
When you know yourself better, then you can develop a plan for how to achieve your goals. You can also identify things that might hold you back from reaching your goals (such as lack of sleep or anxiety about performing specific tasks). A good plan will help ensure that these barriers don't get in the way of becoming a confident nurse!
Are you a new nurse scared to go to work? There are a lot of things to be afraid of when you're starting as a nurse.
The first day of work, the first time you have to give someone medication, and the first time you have to talk to your patient's family about their prognosis—all these moments can be scary.
But there are some simple things you can do to make sure that your patients and their loved ones feel safe and cared for.
Here are some tricks and tips for new nurses to build confidence:
1. Ask Questions
Asking questions is one of the most important things you can do as a new nurse because it shows your superiors that you're interested in learning more about your job and that you're not afraid to ask questions when you don't know something.
Want a FREE Editable Resume Template?
Stand out from crowd and get the college or job of your dreams with this minimalistic google docs resume template designed for the modern professional. Simply edit it with your information and you are good to go!
It also allows them to teach you something new they may not have had time to cover during training sessions.
2. Don't Compare Yourself To Others
There will always be someone with more experience than you — another student or an RN who has been working for years.
Comparing yourself to others only creates unnecessary stress and self-doubt; instead of focusing on what someone else is doing better or worse than you, try focusing on your own strengths and weaknesses so that they can become areas where improvement is needed.
3. Take Advantage Of Opportunities To Practice Skills In Real-Life Situations
The best way to gain experience is by doing it! That's why we spend so much time practicing our skills before we graduate from nursing school — so that when we are on the job, we can focus on taking care of our patients instead of worrying about whether or not we're doing everything right.
So take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way to practice your skills in real-life situations at work or home with family members who are willing participants.
If there aren't any opportunities at work available for you, then ask if there are any free community classes or workshops offered through your hospital or university that would allow you to have on hand experience.
4. Get Feedback From The Senior Nurse
One of the best ways to build confidence is by getting feedback from your senior nurse. They will be able to give you honest advice about how well you are doing and suggestions on how to improve.
You don’t want to ask them in front of everyone else, so find an opportunity when there aren’t many people around (e.g., on lunch break).
5. Be Persistent With Your Mistakes
The biggest mistake new nurses make is giving up too easily when something goes wrong.
They may get frustrated after making an error or two and decide it's not worth trying again because it's just too difficult.
But if you give up at the first sign of trouble, you'll never learn anything new or improve your skill set. So keep going even if things don't go smoothly at first. You'll get better with practice!
6. Read Up On Nursing Skills And Procedures
Most hospitals have patient manuals available for nurses-in-training.
Reading these manuals will help you become familiar with the hospital's policies and procedures, making it easier for you to work as a team member in your new facility.
7. Find New Friends
Many people are worried about making friends with other nurses because it might be seen as a sign of weakness.
But it's actually an excellent way for you to build confidence because you can bounce ideas off of each other and ask questions when needed.
Also, if you're scared of making mistakes or getting yelled at by a doctor or patient, then having someone else there can help calm those fears down a bit.
8. Be Open To Learning New Things
Nurses are constantly learning new information about their patients and their diseases. It's impossible to know everything from day one, so don't get discouraged if something doesn't make sense immediately.
If something doesn't make sense after reading it in your textbook or hearing it from a colleague, ask them to explain it again or look up more information on Google or YouTube.
9. Accept That It Takes Time
Many nurses don't feel confident until they've been practicing for several years. Understand that there's no need to rush this process — in fact, rushing may make things worse.
Take each day at a time and focus on what you can do today rather than worrying about what might happen tomorrow or next week.
What Advice Would You Give a New Nurse?
There's a lot to learn as a new nurse, and it can be hard to know where to start.
The best message I ever received was from my mentor, who told me to "listen more than you speak."
Sometimes as new nurses, we feel like we have all the answers, but really we need to listen more and learn from our coworkers.
I would say don't be afraid to ask questions! Nursing school teaches us so much about the body but not everything about the job of being a nurse.
Don't be afraid to ask your patients how they are feeling or what they are experiencing. The answers may surprise you!
If I could give one piece of advice, I'd say: always stay positive! No matter how bad things get in nursing, there will always be something positive about it, too — even if it's just that at least you're doing something worthwhile for someone else (and getting paid for it!).
How Long Does it Take for a New Nurse to Feel Confident?
New nurses can feel confident in their skills and knowledge after completing a successful orientation and beginning to practice in the healthcare setting.
The length of time it takes to feel confident varies from person to person, but there are a few factors that can affect how quickly you feel at ease.
These include:
- Your personality type
- Your previous work experience (If any)
- How well your employer supports you during orientation and beyond
- How much support do you receive from coworkers, mentors, and others
Is It Normal For New Nurses to Make Mistakes?
Yes, it's normal. It's also normal for experienced nurses to make mistakes.
You'll learn to do things by watching others, reading about them, and practicing independently. You'll also learn from your mistakes, but only if you're willing to admit them and learn from them.
Does that mean you should expect to make mistakes? No, of course not! But it does mean that when you do make a mistake, you shouldn't beat yourself up over it.
What Does a New Nurse Need?
A nurse is an essential person in the hospital. They are responsible for caring for patients and ensuring they get the best treatment possible.
If you're looking to be a nurse, there are some supplies you'll need before you start working.
- First, you need to make sure that you have all of your equipment. You will need to wear scrubs, which can be bought at stores like Walmart or Target, as well as shoes that are comfortable enough for you to walk around all day long.
- In addition to this, a stethoscope is essential for any nurse since it's used to listen to the heart and lungs of patients.
- Other tools include thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, bandages, and even pillows so that patients can rest better while they're being treated.
- Nurses also use needles and syringes often during their shifts to give injections or draw blood from patients who need it for testing.
- These items can be found at pharmacies like Walgreens or CVS or online through websites like Amazon or eBay if you prefer not to leave your home when purchasing them.
What Do New Nurses Struggle With The Most?
Some challenges come with being a nurse — from working long hours to dealing with difficult patients and family members.
In a recent survey of more than 2,000 nurses worldwide, we asked them what they struggle with most as a nurse. Here's what they said:
- Long working hours: Nearly 80% of respondents said their biggest challenge was long working hours (more than 40 hours per week). This was followed by heavy workloads at 56%.
- Difficult patients/families: Nearly half (46%) of respondents reported that complex patients or families were their biggest challenge as a nurse.
- Lack of sleep: More than one-third (35%) of respondents said lack of sleep was their biggest challenge as an RN. However, it can be overcome by following the self-care tips from our other article.
Why Is Being a New Nurse Hard?
Whether you’re an RN or a new operating room nurse, there are many reasons why being a new nurse is hard.
Here are some of the most common ones:
- The learning curve: Becoming a nurse is a lifelong process. There is always something new to learn, and you will never know everything there is to know about nursing.
- The pressure to succeed: Nurses are expected to help doctors diagnose and treat patients. Still, they also have their responsibilities: charting patient records, administering medications, assisting with exams and surgeries, responding to patient concerns and questions, and more. If you fail at any one of these tasks, it can mean life or death for your patient or even legal problems for your employer.
- The physical demands of the job: Nursing jobs often require heavy lifting (a trauma victim's blood pressure cuff), bending (to reach IV pumps or other equipment), standing (for long periods), walking (from room to room or around obstetrics wards), kneeling (to treat wounds or administer injections), squatting (to administer enemas), carrying things while walking (like bedpans) — all while wearing shoes with heels that can easily pinch tiny toes!
How Long Should a New Nurse be Oriented?
The length of time for orientation is dependent on many factors. Generally speaking, a new nurse will be oriented for at least two weeks.
This allows time for the nurse to get acclimated to the hospital environment and their specific job responsibilities.
Some hospitals have orientation programs that last longer than two weeks. For example, some hospitals require new nurses to undergo a three-week orientation program.
The extra week is usually spent learning about the hospital's policies and procedures and how they differ from what they've been used to in other settings.
And That’s A Wrap!
So there you have it: nine tips for new nurses to build confidence.
We hope these tips help you develop the skills and techniques you need to succeed as a nurse. If you're feeling anxious or nervous, remember: every nurse started at the beginning, and you can do this!
Remember that it's not just about having confidence in yourself; it's also about having confidence in your patients and their families. You are a vital part of their healing journey, and they need your support. So go forth with confidence and compassion!
FAQs
How Do New Grad Nurses Survive?
Surviving your first year as a nurse is challenging. It's long, it's stressful, and it's full of learning. You'll be thrown into many situations you've never been in before, and you'll have to figure out how to handle them on the fly.
But there are ways to make it easier!
First, don't try to do everything yourself; work on your organization, talk to your coworkers about what their job responsibilities are, and see if there's anything you can help them with.
That way, everyone knows what they're supposed to be doing at any given time, and no one feels like they're doing more than their share of the work.
Second—and this might seem obvious, but sometimes we forget—work hard! Don't slack off just because you're tired or stressed out by something else going on in your life right now (like school).
Just keep pushing forward until the end of your shift so that when you go home at night after 12 hours on your feet (if not more), at least you can feel good about all the stuff you got done today!
What Should The New Nurse Do First?
There are many ways a new nurse can make a positive impression on a new patient. The first thing to do is introduce yourself to the patient and let them know about you.
The next step is to ask for permission to do an initial assessment of their health. This can include checking blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate. It is also essential that you ask the patient if they have any questions or concerns about their health.
You must listen carefully to what they have to say and answer any questions that they may have regarding their condition.
