I was fortunate enough to help organize a panel of recent UNC SON graduates to speak to current students on the topic of transition into practice. The alums had great insights and I wanted to share a few from one panelist and UNC SON Alumni Board member, Liz Bell
Elizabeth Bell, accelerated BSN program graduate, August 2005, says…
When you graduate from Carolina you will be faced with a challenging and exciting new role as a nurse in the hospital. Remember several important things when you get out into the field.
1. Remember where you came from….Carolina. Those nights you spent studying instead of doing something else were worth it. The experiences you had as a Carolina student should remain with you always. You worked hard for your degree and your new license. Be proud of yourself! However, this is not something you should use to compare yourself to others–let your Carolina heart and brain distinguish you in the field. BSN graduates (like myself) like to feel as though they have something more special than the colleague next to them with a two-year degree or a hospital diploma. Boy, did that attitude get me nowhere. More on that later if you are interested…. Anyway, we are all nurses with a common goal–to care for patients. Those others are the very nurses who are going to bring you along and teach you important skills. That first day, your BSN degree can’t even get you a cup of coffee–but it will pay off in the long run, I promise.
2. You will have good days and not so good days. If you have a question or concern, bring it up. If something doesn’t feel right during a hard day, don’t do it! There is always someone who will listen if you need help as a new graduate.
3. You are part of a team, which involves everyone from the person who takes out the trash to the highest person on the totem pole. While this is common sense, sometimes nurses forget how critical they are in rounds and in patient decision making. Be nice to everyone. Help the person who takes out the trash, and ask them how they are doing. You see them everyday. Be present. Make your opinions and your questions known. Represent us well out there!
4. Be a part of the solution. If the nurses I knew spent as much time creating solutions through positive thinking as they did complaining, we could solve the healthcare crisis. I have complained, too–but I have also decided to start acting like I want solutions. Please join your professional organization, NC Nurses Association. Vote. Stand up for what you believe in. Join hospital committees.
5. Look after yourself. We cannot be good nurses if we don’t take care of ourselves. I forgot to eat right and exercise the first year I was a nurse. I don’t blame myself, because I was trying to figure out how to survive swing shifts. Just remember that you and your people (whoever they are) are just as important as the patients you are caring for. Remember to drink plenty of water and go to the bathroom when you need to, no matter how busy the shift is that you are working. You are worth it!
I wish you all the best of luck. I am so proud to be a nurse and so proud of my Carolina education. If you need someone to talk to after a rough day or about jobs or life in general, you can email me.
This panel reminded me yet again what wonderful resources our alumni continue to be in the life of our school.
