As we say good-by, it is necessary to share a few parting thoughts from one seasoned nurse to the graduate nurse. Never stop asking questions. Always ask if unsure. There is no dumb question. Patient safety is your top priority. The first year will certainly fly as swiftly as nursing school. Inexperience offers the opportunity for growth. Internal fear may prevent you from trying new skills. Do not succumb to the fear. Step up to the new challenges presented to you. Challenge yourself. Upon the completion of each shift, review what went well and what didn’t. Use the nursing process on yourself and solve whatever the issue was that made you feel unsuccessful or inadequate.

Observe other nurses as they perform procedures, especially those procedures that you may feel uncomfortable doing alone. It is expected that as a new graduate, there will be requests from you for stand by assist of a colleague. The uneasiness and discomfort inside the new nurse disappears with the passage of time and after leaving many shifts feeling frustrated. Experience is always the solution. Your learning curve has just begun. As a nurse to remain competent means that knowledge is a life time commitment.

It is important to use the suggestions of the experienced nurse to assist you in your growth. Never take any comments by frustrated nurses, personally. Perhaps this nurse just held the hand of a dying patient and maybe because she took that time with the dying patient, it left her unable to complete the necessary charting that will keep her overtime today . Perhaps she is filled with sadness and has not processed the loss of the patient. Always offer to help. Helping others with their assignments gives support and builds relationships. Work hard and do not complain about assignments given to you.

It is unfortunate that there is some truth to the saying that nurses eat their young. Often preceptors are training new nurses yet they still have their own full assignment. Do not try to cover up mistakes or feel embarrassed when you are not sure, always admit what you do not know. If the nurse is being critical, ask yourself, is this constructive criticism? If so accept the recommendations and work on becoming a better nurse. If the comment is not constructive gently remind the nurse or ask her if she can remember what it was like when she was a new nurse. Often times if you smile and remain calm it will be difficult for that nurse to be mean to you.

You are the future of Nursing. You can make a difference. You are entering the nursing world in a time of great financial insecurity. The next few years we will see our patient’s in times of trial and great hardship. Your patient’s will come to you much sicker due to the loss of income from lost jobs and loss of medical insurance. It will be vital to listen to what your patient’s tell you. You will never ever regret taking time to listen.

Nurses have the highest ranking with regard to integrity and honesty. Nurses are given the opportunity to become intimate when our patients pour out their heart, soul, sharing their darkest secrets and fears. Nurses are respected because of the trust that is afforded our profession. Nurses are privileged to witness the resilience of those fighting for life, as well as the gift of sharing one’s final moments.  What a privilege to provide comfort at the end of life, or share the joy of new life witnessing the delivery of a newborn. Being a nurse is one of the few careers where you are able to make a difference daily in someone’s life.

As I say good-by as that seasoned nurse, I want to leave you with heart felt warmth and gratitude ,of what each and every graduate contributed to the success of your class. Your efforts and contributions to LVNSTUDY.com will be a legacy that will be shared with nurse’s world -wide in an effort to keep nurses competent. Each and everyone inspired the faculty daily and we look forward to hearing back via this website as your share your new experiences as nurses.