Navigating Your Transition: Essential Tips for the New Graduate RN

The caps have been thrown. Those worn white shoes have been retired to your closet. Stacks of textbooks can finally rest. You have just completed your nursing program and crossed the finish line. Congratulations! Embarking on your nursing career is an exciting journey filled with opportunities for growth and impact. The end of your nursing school experience was likely filled with NCLEX prep, speciality clinical rotations, and endless exams. This year marks my 10th anniversary as a registered nurse, though I left the bedside to become a financial coach in 2022. I'm celebrating that milestone by sharing the top tips I wish I knew as a new grad. 

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It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint

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You are going to be so. Darn. Excited. Yes, I know. You worked so hard to become a professional who gets to play in the sandbox with the big kids. Every new opportunity will be fresh and exciting. New medication? Let's learn. New procedure? Yes please! In the medical field there will always be things you don't know. Take advantage of new opportunities to learn but realize there will always be more. Cramming all of it now just means you won't remember it later. Slow and steady!

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It Takes (up to) 2 Years to Get Comfortable

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Sometimes longer. You are learning how to think in new ways. It's ok to still be unsure and uncomfortable. The day you know everything there is to know about nursing will never come. A seasoned nurse once told me that for the first year, you just do things because someone tells you. Give the medication because there's an order. Listen to the charge nurse because they know better. Once you are more confident in your clinical and patient care skills, you will start to think critically and understand the puzzle pieces. You will want this process to go faster, but there's only so much studying and preparation you can do between shifts. Keep a list of things that were interesting or confusing to check on later, but save the homework for when you are physically and mentally rested.

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You Will Make Mistakes

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If you read nothing else, read this: you will make mistakes and it will be ok. No amount of studying will save you. I used this so that I would never look "bad" or "unprepared" in front of a doctor again. Guess what? It didn't work. The mistakes I made turned into lessons etched into my brain and they made me a stronger nurse. Information is power, but not guaranteed protection.

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Protect That License

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Speaking of protection, there are things you can control. You will never forget how hard you worked to earn your Registered Nurse license. I can still tell you my RN license number for my state. The very first thing you need to do after getting licensed is purchase your own professional liability insurance. Medication errors are just a tiny fraction of why nurses lose their licenses. Policies are affordable for nurses who do not write prescriptions (i.e. nurse practitioners). Print out your coverage and keep it on file but don't share this with your employer.

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Practical Tip: Policies are usually billed annually. Set aside some money from your graduation gifts and give yourself the peace of mind that your license is protected. Then, take that total and divide it by 12. This is the number you need to set aside each month so you can renew with confidence next year. 

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Your Employer is NOT Your Friend

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This one took me a long time to learn. I honestly believed that if I worked hard and never said no, I would be paid better and treated fairly. I believe that most employers try their best to take care of their team. New grads are notoriously taken advantage of because of your eagerness to help and learn. Make sure you are taking your needs into consideration before agreeing to that overtime shift or taking that tricky assignment. Nurse residency programs are fantastic resources for helping you navigate these situations.

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Think Twice Before Signing a Contract

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Student loans may be breathing down your neck. You would love a new car. Nice scrubs are not cheap these days. Besides, you'll need a job for five years anyways right? Make sure you review your contract closely and also have a trusted friend read it. I have helped many clients evaluate contracts and we have found more traps than benefits. If they give you a short time to give them an answer that is a red flag. If they will not hire you without a contract that is a red flag. There is nothing wrong with taking a contract bonus, but be prepared to pay it back in full if you are unable to fulfill the requirements. 

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Your Worth is Not Defined by Patient Outcomes

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There will be patients that tug at your heart strings. That make you think of them on your off days. You will experience some of the greatest joys and greatest sadness in your nursing career. It is crucial to take part in debrief exercises after codes or difficult experiences. As a Neonatal ICU nurse I have attended funerals for some but also first birthday parties for many patients. Make sure you have a trusted network of people you can rely on when you need extra support. Take advantage of employer-sponsored programs for mental health and use all the resources you are entitled to. Nearly a decade later I think about past patients who made an impact on my life. You witness a short part of their life journey. Try to separate yourself from the outcome-both good and bad.

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You Aren't Stuck

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The days of working for one hospital until you retire are over. I said it. There are some old-school nurses who would preach this to me. In my experience, loyalty doesn't pay. I was a determined young nurse and maxed out my staff nurse pay in the first two years of my career. The ceiling was real, and boy was it low. My options were to work overtime, promote to management or change hospitals to make more money. I chose to change hospitals and immediately made 20% more with better benefits. With my credentials and negotiated pay raise, I was making more than nurses with more experience than me who never left that hospital. On that note...

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Talk About Your Pay

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And ask! There's a stigma around pay in the health system. In my coaching practice I refer to "yogurt breaks" often. If you've been around a day shift crew, you know what I'm talking about. All sorts of topics come out when nurses are relaxing in the breakroom, and even more come out over midnight lulls and IV starts. It's ok to talk about your pay and to ask others. They don't have to tell you, but by keeping it a secret you are only protecting your employer. You should also be discussing pay WITH your employer whenever you receive an annual evaluation. Ask about pay incentives and if there aren't any, ask why. Sometimes these aren't improvements to the hourly rate. One perk at my hospital was paid time for professional development to earn continuing education credit (CEUs). That was an extra 15 hours of pay per year for completely state licensing requirements. Many of my coworkers weren't even aware this was a benefit available to them. 

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Conclusion

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I wish you the best on your journey! I attribute my success as a budget coach to my foundation in nursing. There will be amazing days and horrible ones but just remember: the work you do matters. Bookmark this blog post and revisit it when you need that reminder. And if you need help creating an effective budget, you know where to find me!

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