Apprehensive about no longer being able to get away with “I’m new?” Don’t be. The amount of growth you’ll undergo from orientation to 6 months is exponential.
Six months was an intangible marker sometime in the far, far future. I remember the day that I stepped onto the floor for the first time – I felt completely overwhelmed.
But I managed.
And so will you.
At the resolution of 6 months, I have emerged from my little cocoon as a beautiful butterfly an improved registered nurse. However, this self-assurance did not develop overnight.
To ensure success, there were a few mental reconfigurations I needed to make.
Idealism vs. Realism
Say it with me now: “Nursing school is nothing like actually working as a nurse.“ Make that your mantra. Eat, sleep, and repeat it.
In NCLEX world, you can take your time and everything you need is theoretically at hand. You can mull over a question for 10+ min to rationalize out a correct answer. If you get the question wrong, then no harm, no foul.
In the real world, things are time-sensitive and involve higher stakes. Your restless and agitated patient is not going to sit calmly for 10+ min while you page the provider for an emergent Ativan order, retrieve the supplies for administration, and calculate how many mL to give.
Nursing school is nothing like actually working as a nurse.
– Said every nurse ever
When I first started out, I was highly textbook-based. I had a one-track mind and became unsettled if something was not performed to the T per our fundamentals of nursing textbook (Yes, I actually read that monstrous thing).
Nursing practice is not as rigid as our exams, quizzes, and skills checkoffs make you believe it to be. As long as you are following your employer’s guidelines for policies and procedures, you have free reign to create your own unique style.
No thanks. You?
Being a registered nurse is a thankless career. In spite of all the “Healthcare Heroes” appreciation that’s going on due to coronavirus, the amount of recognition you realistically receive on the daily is very rare.
If your sense of self-worth stems from what other people say, then you’ll be largely dissatisfied.
Search for other ways to derive meaning and purpose from your career. Maybe it’s mastering a skill, cross-training for another unit, joining a committee, or seeing a patient progress.
On the special day that you do receive a compliment — smile, cherish it, and live contentedly.
Don’t Kick Yourself (Ever)
Nurses are not infallible beings.
You will make mistakes.
You will have doubts.
You will upset people, whether it be colleagues or patients.
You will feel embarrassed, ashamed, inexperienced, and distraught.
You will feel like you’re not doing enough.
You will question yourself and your abilities.
Remember: We are perfectly imperfect beings.
Believing otherwise is setting yourself up for poor work ethic, low self-esteem, and an onset of mental health issues.
If you are to successfully recover from an incident, you need to develop self-awareness, take time for reflection, and practice healthy coping mechanisms.
Hold Your Nursing Friends Close
If you don’t have any friends in nursing or healthcare, then it’s time to make some! It’s a crew who can wholeheartedly empathize with your work life. Plus, you don’t have to pause your story every 2 seconds to explain medical terms. (Or even worry about violating HIPAA if you work in the same unit.)
Additionally, consider having medical friends in different roles and workplaces. It provides perspective and you can shoot around ideas for innovations in collaborative practice. You can even get the inside scoop on work culture, salaries, benefits, and job openings.
If you prefer to remain anonymous or haven’t had the time to build these relationships, I recommend online communities such as allnurses.com, r/nursing on reddit, or even #nursetwitter.
You Know Nothing
You may reach the end of your orientation period thinking, “Holy sh*t, I’m not ready for this.” But trust me, you are.
No one ever feels like they 100% know everything.
As long as you have a solid foundation and are familiar with the basics, you’re good to go. Whatever it is that you need practice with, there are more experienced nurses to guide you.
What can you do to bridge your knowledge gaps?
Be annoying.
Be curious.
Be questioning.
Sound dumb — who cares? You are learning. It’s better to be overly cautious than to have something seriously threatening happen.
Go Forth and Prosper
By the time you hit the 6th month marker, you’ve reached peak efficiency on time management and task-related care. Since you have a nice routine going, you can start to pay attention to developing soft skills, such as deescalation techniques, serving as charge nurse, or contributing to councils.
At this point, people start to branch out and explore alternative career options. If you’re feeing restless, then that’s normal. Seldom do people start out their first nursing job as their “dream job.”
Pay attention to what cases truly spark your interest. Consider the lifestyle you want in terms of hours and days/weekends/holidays worked. Network with people in those respective fields.
But most of all, pat yourself on the back, because you’re through the thick of it.
I can only see continued growth and well-being in your future.
Author’s Note:
Christine Vera Polintan 
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