Do you remember your first nursing job? Better yet, do you remember your first day?
Nurses who are new to the profession are often excited and scared at the same time. Knowing that they’ve finally finished nursing school and passed the NCLEX exam is just the first step.
Experienced nurses are the foundation for supporting new nurses in their transition from nursing student to the work environment. Veteran nurses use their knowledge and experience to provide new nurses with the support needed to succeed, which can lead to a positive work culture and even nurse retention. It’s a great opportunity to reflect and then implement the support you either had or wish you had as a budding nurse.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss ways to encourage new nurses and guide them as they learn the ropes of the nursing profession.
Be a Team Player
Teamwork is an essential part of nursing. A collaborative mindset allows nurses to help each other when patient loads are high.
When new nurses observe co-workers helping one another, they feel more comfortable asking for help. Be a resource for them and invite them to tag along when you’re asking for help.
Sharing allows new nurses to improve their skillset and find their own approaches. Of course, nurses learn basic skills in school, but in day-to-day care it can be much different. Nurses that work as team players are also more likely to enjoy their work environment and have higher job satisfaction.
Share Your Experiences
I always enjoy hearing experiences from nurses about how they learned certain skills and tricks. While it’s most beneficial to glean this information as a new nurse, it truly never gets old, no matter how long you’re practicing.
Listening to others’ stories helps prepare new nurses for what they may have to do in the future. This is especially true for situations that do not happen frequently, like patient complications. Explaining how to handle these challenges helps them prepare and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes. Be friendly and approachable during these interactions to build trust where they feel safe to share too. In these cases, it becomes easier for new nurses to listen, learn and gain the problem-solving skills they’ll use to think critically in the future.
Step Up and Step In
New nurses can feel overwhelmed by patient workload and paperwork. Offering help when you notice someone is behind is a great way to show support. It’s even better when you ask a new nurse to tag along and help too. Even something as simple as passing ice or answering a call can give them the five minutes they need to catch up on charting.
Speaking of, understanding paperwork in the nursing field can be confusing, so taking the time to pitch in and explain how to fill out forms helps new nurses build confidence in completing these tasks. Be patient and remember your first time working through paperwork and wanting to complete it correctly.
Offer Constructive and Kind Feedback
Help build self-esteem in new nurses by giving constructive criticism in a kind way. Pointing out missteps can lead to negative feelings about coworkers and job performance. Stay positive when giving criticism so they can understand how to improve their skills. Make sure to celebrate what they did correctly and how it improves patient care before mentioning what was done incorrectly.
By offering help and staying positive, you’re showing that you want them to be part of the team and that they’re capable. This also builds their confidence by empowering them to grow in areas where they’re less strong. This is most fruitful when you’ve taken time to build a bit of trust with the new nurse, as they’re likely already nervous to start with.
Be a Role Model
As an experienced nurse, you’re a nurse leader with a great opportunity to set a positive example for newcomers. An exemplary nurse strives for improved patient safety and embodies positive characteristics. They also prioritize continuing education to develop and maintain clinical and professional skills.
Experienced nurses can also prepare new nurses for professional responsibilities by speaking positively about their role. When you speak kindly about your workplace and coworkers, it helps new nurses have a positive mindset instead of noticing the negative characteristics of the profession. There’s a balance, however. You also want to be supportive and honest if they share about the challenges that you are all too familiar with.
Additionally, as a role model, you’ll want to discuss goals you’ve set for yourself and how you’re working toward them. When new nurses see others working toward their goals, it encourages them to work toward theirs as well. Be respectful and kind during interactions with new nurses and praise them for following your lead.
Promote Positive Communication Skills
When communicating with healthcare team members, be positive and kind. This also applies to interactions with patients. New nurses are learning how to build their own way of communicating in the workplace by watching those around them. Encourage positive nonverbal and verbal forms of communication and be an example by smiling, practicing an open stance and using eye contact. It’s also important to be respectful in tone and choice of words during communication.
It’s also worth noting that experienced nurses can explain cultural differences to new nurses. Some cultures communicate with less eye contact or have a different level of personal space than we might be used to. Understanding cultural communication expectations helps to build respect with people in those cultures. As nurses care for all cultures, it’s our responsibility to be aware of these differences and respect them to the best of our abilities. Preparing new nurses for this will help them to avoid awkward situations in the future and find comfort in adjusting to the unique needs of all patients.
You’ll also want to discuss open communication with new nurses. Encourage them to practice such and show them how to communicate safely without being judged. This is especially important when speaking to management and coworkers. Trust in the workplace is built by having open communication because everyone wants to work through situations without being aggressive or negative. It also translates into relational skills and trust with patients.
Be a Mentor
Some healthcare facilities and hospital systems have formal mentorship programs that pair experienced nurses with new nurses to help build relationships and guide new nurses through the process of learning to use their knowledge on the clinical level. Similarly, the relationship built during orientation gives new nurses support in the workplace and helps prevent burnout. Mentors huddle with new nurses to discuss situations throughout the workday and what went well or what could have been done differently.
Nurse mentors do more than just orient new coworkers, but they support new nurses throughout their careers. They also help new nurses build connections and networks by introducing them to management, providers, administrators and specialists. The mentorship relationship can be lifelong. New nurses may even use these relationships for letters of recommendation for future roles.
In sum, experienced nurses are shaping the next generation of nurses. Nursing coworkers, mentors, educators and managers are all in a position to help. You may not realize that a new nurse is watching and learning from your daily habits. Remember these tips, and you’ll be equipping tomorrow’s nurses for their highest potential.
Advance your nursing career to the next level – where you can serve in a higher role and build the next generation of nurses – with the nursing programs at American College of Education.
